Reply To: Congo DRC Government of National Unity

[Congo]

Yesterday, the Special Representative for the Great Lakes declared to have taken note of the holding of presidential elections within constitutional off in 2017. Would it not for MONUSCO one way hinder or adroitly violate the 2277 Council resolution security, which promotes respect for the Constitution?

“We stand a little to the traditional position of the United Nations once again at this level. We encouraged the dialogue and we wanted it to be as inclusive as possible. And we have not changed a bit over that. It’s true that dialogue is currently suspended; the facilitator tries to restart the dialogue. He got it yesterday met various personalities from all sides, there was a press conference where he also specified very clearly that there will be no extension of the deadline of this national dialogue . He said, if there is an extension, it will be for a few hours, not for several days. So we already inscribe in this wavelength and you know that yesterday, Said Djinnit, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, also said that for his part he wanted the agreement to conclude this dialogue acceptable. So that’s just the point of view of the international community. We would actually there in inclusive dialogue possible with all stakeholders, and that the conclusions of this dialogue are really acceptable to all. That’s a bit what we can tell, “said in substance, Mr. Charles Antoine Bambara, Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO. All other detailed aspects of the issues and answers to questions are read below.

Q of the press conference “One UN”

(Wednesday, September 14, 2016)

The joint press conference of the United Nations was animated from Kinshasa by Antoine Charles Bambara, Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO; Captain Yassine Kasim, military spokesman Acting and Fabien Faivre of the country team, all involved from Goma.

The conference was attended by Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz, Director of the Joint UN Office for Human Rights, from Kinshasa.

Question 1

Martha Boswandole / AFP: My question is for Mr. Charles Bambara. Last Friday in Kasumbalesa, unrest broke out. Is today MONUSCO tell us what really happened on the ground. Do you have a record for the number of deaths?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: A Kasumbalesa, I think I want to see the military side if Goma were some answers about this happened exactly Kasumbalesa. Is it a record? If we do not balance, we can communicate by contacting our specialized services below. Captain, do you have some answers in relation to this?

Military spokesman interim MONUSCO [Captain Yassine Kasim]: So why was launched reconnaissance patrols, but for now we have not received any confirmed number for what happened LA- low. Thank you very much.

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: I think Jose Maria Aranaz has some information as Director of the Joint Office of rights the man. Mr. Aranaz, do you have some guidance?

Director of the Joint Office of the United Nations Human Rights [Jose Maria Aranaz]: Yes, our interim report has documented at least six civilians were killed by lethal weapons, and that includes a woman, a girl and a policeman was killed, assassinated by the population.

And as always, we were very concerned about the use of lethal weapons in controlling demonstrations and protests by the armed forces and the PNC.

Question 2

Nenette Ngendo / The Verdict: A question for the captain. Just after the massacre of 21 to 28 August in Beni, you spoke about investigations that should be instituted. What these surveys and have they already determined their guilt first elements?

Military spokesman interim MONUSCO [Captain Yassine Kasim]: For now, we still did not elements to answer this question.

Question 3

Flavien Musans / Planet Television: I return to the current Bosco Ntaganda folder. According to his lawyer, he does not answer. So this is a catering problem. I would like to know, is that it is the ICC that deprives Bosco Ntaganda to eat, or is Bosco Ntaganda himself who refuses to eat the food offered by the ICC?

Responsible for raising awareness, Field Office CPI-DRC [Margot Tedesco] Bosco Ntaganda has voluntarily stopped eating on 7 September. Notably to protest against the decision of the House 7 of the ICC, to maintain restrictions on contacts.

Indeed, the House had the restriction of his communications during his detention, because she thinks that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Bosco Ntaganda wrongly used his communication rights, in particular, in order to exert significant pressure on witnesses.

What are the restrictions? These restrictions include limiting the visiting time, communications are heard by the Registry which is not judicial organ of the ICC, and also level visits, visits are limited to the family, etc., in languages that can be heard and understood by the registry, and of course it is forbidden for Bosco Ntaganda to speak, to discuss the ongoing case.

The judges particularly noted Sept. 9 that the persistent refusal to appear in the courtroom or provide a mandate to its main board Stephane Bourgon to represent him in the courtroom could be seen as “an attempt” and here I quote the president judge of that room, “as an attempt to disrupt the proceedings, or as a deliberate refusal to comply with orders, and this could lead to sanctions.”

Question 4

Rodriguez Katsuva / Independent (Goma): I have two questions, one for Goma to Kinshasa and another. The first, MONUSCO had previously promised to assist INEC in logistics, has made only 10% of its promises. She promised 18 aircraft, but it offered only two so far. Is there a problem with that? I wonder why the aid promised in logistics is not complete?

And the second question, which is especially addressed to military and Kasim captain, is that non stealth drone MONUSCO help until now in the “Sukola 1″ operation?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: I want to take the first question on the promises of MONUSCO to INEC. You give a specific figure of 18 planes promised by MONUSCO to INEC, I do not know where do you draw exactly that information, but I would have written, see your source.

That said, MONUSCO was part of the line of logistic support to the CENI, and this support has already started effectively on the field with the pre-recording operations so Gbadolite where MONUSCO supports the INEC in this effort and elsewhere including.

We regularly remind: elements in the offices of INEC here in Kinshasa, which are tuned to different queries on a daily basis and see how to accompany it. The Special Representative himself has regular meetings with the president of the CENI and various members of the CENI, and we continue that support.

logistical, technical support from United Nations agencies, etc., and it works pretty well overall so far.

The second part of the question, I’ll let the captain Yassine try to provide some answers that question eventually.

Military spokesman interim MONUSCO [Captain Yassine Kasim]: Yes, I confirm that. Drones are a major asset for operations or for collecting information or for the location of camps of armed groups. Yes, they are still running.

Question 5

Patrick Felix Abely / Greater Kivu (Goma): Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz, a question from a statement. At your arrival at the head of UNJHRO, you seemed to be very active in the publication of reports. But recently, I found that you have dropped a little bit of momentum in the publication. And actually when you try a little look at what is happening on the ground it does not marry so much with what you publish. What justifies this?

Director of the Joint Office of the United Nations Human Rights [Jose Maria Aranaz]: Thank you for the question. I think Dr. Bambara made reference to traditional reports. It is a way of referring to the monthly note is prepared.

the monthly note was prepared as I said every month. And the bill for August was prepared early, that means it was before other notes. So we have all the information available on our website and also on our Twitter page. We published the monthly note on a regular basis and also with general reports, the first for the first half of the year and a general report for the whole of last year.

If you need further clarification, please contact me, but we are preparing the information publicly every month.

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: In fact, every month, there is a monthly report from the Joint Office of the United Nations rights Man. Maybe you have missed one or two, but the monthly payment of this ratio is maintained.

Question 6

Victory Muliwavyo / Radio Télévision Graben (Goma): My question is addressed to Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz. You are published each month, as you just said, the various reports on the evolution of human rights here in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but we find that, overnight, violations continue increase, while you publish various reports that have no impact on the ground. What is your solution or what is your conclusion or opinion with respect to these reports you are about to publish?

Director of the Joint Office of the United Nations Human Rights [Jose Maria Aranaz]: I think that on other occasions, I have explained to us that the publication of the monthly note and other reports is an instrument to make information and to try to change a bad situation, and more positive situation.

I share with you the concern that we continue to report increased numbers of violations of human rights, especially by armed groups and also the state agents.

But before we share our monthly note or our relationship with the authorities. It is also a contribution to make justice against the perpetrators of violations of human rights. And that’s why every month decisions against members we salute, state agents and services that have been convicted of violations of human rights.

And on the other side, use the reports as a means to clarify and identify other actions necessary for the authorities to improve the situation in general, and change the course of the situation of human rights in DRC.

Question 7

Laetitia Masela / RTNC 2: My question is to Mr. Charles Bambara. The people of Goma are worried since the arrival of South Sudanese fighters Garamba National Park. What MONUSCO is doing to remedy this situation?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: I would say very clearly here that thing: all South Sudanese fighters were taken from the park Garamba were disarmed by MONUSCO and the arms kept in the facilities of MONUSCO.

And this once more was made in conjunction with the Kinshasa government, and it is mainly for humanitarian reasons. Many of these fighters, or even those civilians who have crossed the border, were in a deplorable health and nutritional status. And for these reasons, and these reasons alone, they were extracted from the Garamba Park to be sent to Dungu, in Bunia, in Munigi and then in Goma.

Those in Goma are sick. They are in the hospital. There are just ten; the others are Munigi. That is to say that the bulk of South Sudanese are not even in Goma, to appease some concerns particularly in Goma.

Those which are once again, Goma, in the hospital. It is exactly 17 people. The others are in Munigi, and all the sites where they are under MONUSCO security. That is to say that no one can enter or exit. And that is why MONUSCO calls precisely, not only the government of the DRC but also the sub-regional institutions: ICGLR, SADC … to get involved in this issue, alongside of course also the government of South Sudan to find a rapid solution to help find a solution to these people because we all know they can not stay indefinitely here.

This is what we call our thinking. And besides, the United Nations in New York and MONUSCO here are working with the government, so DRC, trying to find the solution with sub-regional actors.

Question 8

Alain Uaykani / Xinhua: I return to the South Sudanese, Charles Bambara. We know that problems always arise when it comes to support. The government has asked you to retrieve these refugees currently. And long term we would like to know that feeds that which supports and that how it goes?

This is often when things are blocking that has to manage to eat to live. So the concern also arises because we do not know who will take the displaced in charge if ever they did not return if things were not too quick solution in South Sudan. So, is that it is the MOUSCO will remain permanently in charge of these refugees, to avoid what is happening with others, such as the FDLR, or it is the government that will take perhaps supported in the coming days ? How’s it going ?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: Well, we UNHCR here. Do not just shuffle tracks as we have seen in some newspaper headlines yesterday. Refugees are civilians, soldiers … I speak under UNHCR control is there. The soldiers who crossed the border with their weapons are not refugees. Only civilians are refugees.

Can you clarify this already, our colleague from the UNHCR, I think that would help journalists understand?

UNHCR spokesman [Andreas Kirchhof]: So I would actually repeat what Mr. Charles Bambara just explained.

There are armed men, fighters who were evacuated by MONUSCO Garamba park, but it has nothing to do with the broader refugee situation.

So there is a second group. And here we are talking about 30,000 people we have stored up [now]. Which are scattered in the provinces of Haut-Uélé and Ituri, which are civilians, the majority are women and children who have fled the fighting in South Sudan.

Therefore, UNHCR and its partners began to Doruma in Haut Uélé, to provide assistance. Most refugees receive assistance from the local population. Recently, it has received information on the Ituri province where there are many arrivals, new arrivals and there are some organizations like Maltiza and other NGOs who are trying to support these refugees.

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara] Behold, so thank you to our colleague from the UNHCR. I would however point out that, for now, the South Sudanese fighters who crossed the border and were extracted from the Garamba park and kept in sites are paid for the time of MONUSCO on the map of course food and medically.

That said, we call for a political solution. And I said, the situation can not keep indefinitely. I think we’re on the same wavelength as the government

Kinshasa here. It takes involvement of subregional institutions once again, the governments of the subregion to find a future solution to the South Sudanese present here, and we think, and we wish in any case, a rapid solution.

Question 9

Pascal Mulegwa / Anadolu Yesterday, the Special Representative for the Great Lakes declared to have taken note of the holding of presidential elections within constitutional off in 2017. Would it not for MONUSCO one way hinder or violate skilfully the 2277 resolution of the security Council, which promotes respect for the Constitution.

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: We stick a bit to the traditional position of the United Nations once again at this level. We encouraged the dialogue and we wanted it to be as inclusive as possible. And we have not changed a bit over that.

It’s true that dialogue is currently suspended; the facilitator tries to restart the dialogue. He got it yesterday met various personalities from all sides, there was a press conference where he also specified very clearly that there will be no extension of the deadline of this national dialogue . He said, if there is an extension, it will be for a few hours, not for several days.

So we already inscribe in this wavelength and you know that yesterday, Said Djinnit, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, also said that for his part he wanted the agreement to conclude this dialogue acceptable. So that’s just the point of view of the international community.

We would actually there in inclusive dialogue possible with all stakeholders, and that the conclusions of this dialogue are really acceptable to all. That’s a bit what we can say.

Question 10

Alain Botoko / Independent: A quick question to Mr. Charles Bambara. Did you arrange that you MONUSCO stopping the dialogue of the city of the African Union to continue to push those who are not in it to enter, or it does not help you, things can go on like this the wine is drawn. What is your position ?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: No, this is a dialogue between Congolese. This is the Congolese to resolve the problem of the national dialogue. The facilitator asked everyone around the table, some came, he said that the doors were open for those who wish to join later.

We support, we facilitate this thoroughly. The Special Representative has met regularly since the beginning of the dialogue, and even before the start of the dialogue, the entire political class to encourage them to go to that dialogue; and Ban Ki-moon reiterated and the Security Council, too, we want an inclusive dialogue. And I think to remember this is what is important to us.

And now regarding the suspension of the dialogue, you know that I said just now. Mr. Edem Kodjo is working once again with all the seriousness that he knows, with all the skill that he knows, trying to reconcile points of view and asking each other to make some concessions in order there as soon as possible a resumption of the dialogue. We believe and hope that this will happen, so you can see just where it is that it can take us. That’s a bit above what we can say.

Question 11

Inga Patherne / AP (Goma): My question is to the spokesman MONUSCO, Charles Bambara. I think my colleagues in Kinshasa from that of the TRNC have already sold my question, but nevertheless I’ll rephrase it in another way.

You just bring us southerners on our soil, especially in the eastern DRC, where desolation will pass. Why not relocate in the West, or the center of the floor and let these first desolation end in the eastern DRC?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: You said something very serious, you said we’ve taken the southerners. And I’m sure that many of your fellow journalists here you will say that this is not MONUSCO that brought these southerners here. You know the internal conflict there and in South Sudan face that conflict, part of the South Sudanese army led by Riek Machar, who is now in opposition as we know, went through the border. That was very clear.

MONUSCO has brought anyone. MONUSCO has found that crossing the border and seized the Congolese authorities who have given us permission, if you will, to assist in humanitarian terms these people on Congolese territory, because once again many were malnourished , gunshot wounds, some he seems to have been bitten by snakes in the bush because they are not in a city or in a village, they are really outside settlements or village sites, and many risked simply die.

So it’s face once more in our duty to protect civilians, humanitarian assistance to our duty and at the request of authorities that we brought this support; it must be clear.

We have brought anyone and that is why the United Nations from its headquarters in New York and so far in the DRC, call the DRC authorities, all of the sub-regional actors to get together to discuss that ‘is what we do. We will not keep them here indefinitely, but what we do. And MONUSCO will be ready to support the government authorities to find a positive or happy outcome to unravel in any case this situation. That’s kind of what I can say in relation to this issue.

Question 12

Jackson Mutshima / RTNC (Goma): My question is for Fabien UNICEF. He said that UNICEF is implementing the campaign door-to-door that aims to empower partners in education. But I would like to know why UNICEF does not support the government which proposed or working on free education; because educate or empower officials without take into account what is already done or perhaps support what is already done, it may be to the contour or in circles. So I ask UNICEF, why they will not support the government in the free education in primary school?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: We’ll take questions here in Kinshasa with UNICEF colleagues who are present in the room. Is one of them can actually confirm or deny or provide answers on the free education? Does UNICEF is ready to support the government in relation to this?

For Education UNICEF [Pascaline Mupaya]: Compared to free education, yes. It is since 2010 that free is really effective in DRC, except for the two cities of Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.

UNICEF continues to conduct advocacy to implement accompanying measures to free, including the construction of halls classes, mechanization of teachers; and the government is trying to achieve gradually all these accompanying measures of gratuity.

There are buildings that are taken by programs across the DRC, and the mechanization of teachers also gradually until all the accompanying free measures are in place.

But meanwhile Education is a right, so every child has the right to education really. We can not let the children pending the accompanying measures. This is why the study of children and adolescents outside the school conducted in 2012 revealed that there are at least almost 7 million children aged 5 to 17 outside school of which 3.5 million are children in primary school age.

And to accelerate the number of children so they can go to school at the legal age, which is why we have set up campaign that policy door-to-door, where two weeks of the school year in public schools, teachers … down into households around the school to educate parents to send their children to school.

Question 13

Symphorien Katumba / Explorer: I have a concern to Mr Charles Bambara. Dishcloths burn on national dialogue convened by President Joseph Kabila in Statutory Order and the 2277 resolution of the UN Security Council. To settle the crisis in the two formats of the dialogue, MONUSCO which gives priority to these two resolutions?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: I did not understand the question. And then you say ” cloths burn ” I do not know where does it burn?

Symphorien Katumba / Explorer: I was saying that President Joseph Kabila convened the dialogue under the Statutory Order, and MONUSCO under resolution 2277. You give what type of priority to these two resolution formats?

Director of Public Information Division of MONUSCO spokesman and acting MONUSCO [Antoine Charles Bambara]: You know Edem Kodjo made regular press conferences, we also approach it to see what -this he thinks of your question.

But for our part, the United Nations resolution that I know pretty well, I do not know if the government resolutions, etc. ; no, generally speaking resolutions at UN level.

But I ask you to get closer to Edem Kodjo, I’m sure that by tonight or tomorrow will be a press conference; Yesterday he did, I’m sure maybe at the end of the day or tomorrow, he will.

Thank you for participating in this press conference