Pope Francis appeals for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo

by Congo | Dec 27, 2016 | Congo Today

Question 10

Aubin Kandembi / Prosperity: My question is for Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz and the spokesman for MONUSCO. We are just a few days away from the New Year, what assessment can MONUSCO make today on the socio-political Congolese? This year, did we advance or retreat? If there has been progress or not, and in your answers you find weaknesses and strengths on both sides, what message could you send today to the Congolese political agora, Try to convince the population and the political actors to avoid the evils and tensions?

MONUSCO [Felix Prosper Basse] spokesperson: I do not know if we have material time to make an assessment, but what I want to propose to you is that if you need an exhaustive review, The outcome of this press conference, I can grant you this interview.

Now, what we can simply say is that we should not throw the baby out with the bath water, because it would not be very honest for all of us to say that nothing Has been done, nothing has changed for 15 years. I am sorry to tell you, as I repeat enough, much has been done, much remains to be done. And in order for us to continue in this positive direction, particularly with regard to the security situation, concerning the political situation, concerning the social and even the humanitarian situation, I believe that with the Congolese authorities, with the Congolese people, All of us can eradicate all these armed groups operating in the east of the country. Because the will is there, the means are implemented, because it is that people do not understand is that many soldiers on the ground do not sleep.

It is not obvious but every day, night and day, patrols are carried out and have a dissuasive effect. The presence of the FARDC and their efforts to protect the population must be considered rightly. From my point of view, hope is permitted, in order to move towards a much more brilliant future for the Congolese people, because ultimately they are the ones we are interested in. Yes, Jose Maria if you have anything?

Director of the Joint United Nations Office for Human Rights [Jose Maria Aranaz]: Yes, as you said, I do not think we have enough time to make a full assessment and I Not also the moment.
On the side of the Joint United Nations Office on Human Rights, we will take stock of the year at the first press conference in January 2017. We will present a full report. But I can tell you that with regard to the provisional record of respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, as I say at the press conference, there was a dramatic increase of 300% in violations Of human rights figures that relate to democratic space.

This means that the restriction of democratic space and fundamental freedoms is real, and we have expressed our concern about this. We took this opportunity to advocate with the authorities, the new government and also those who participate in the CENCO dialogue, to make every effort to open the democratic space, to change the trend, because everything In talking about fundamental rights and freedoms and democratic space, has a lot of direct relationship with measures of decrimination.

So if we want to create the right climate for calm and credible elections, for dialogue, we must open the democratic space, we must change the trend, we must reduce the number of violations of human rights and freedoms Fundamentals.

Congo
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