UN / DRC

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Maman Sidikou, told the Security Council that “the deteriorating security situation in the DRC remains a source of major concern.” He noted that the political agreement of 31 December “provides a clear path towards the holding of elections, setting the stage for MONUSCO's drawdown and exit.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:17
• Production Date: 21 March 2017
• Asset Language: English; French
• Personal Subject: MAMAN S. SIDIKOU
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - MONUSCO
• Subject Topical: ELECTIONS; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 1853262
• Parent Id: 1853262
• Alternate Title: unifeed170321e

Description

STORY: UN / DRC
TRT: 02:17
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 21 MARCH 2017, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

21 MARCH 2017, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Maman Sidikou, Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The deteriorating security situation in the DRC remains a source of major concern. As noted in the report of the Secretary General, violence and threats to civilians are no longer concentrated in the Eastern DRC. Community-based violence and inter-ethnic clashes have spread from areas already affected by armed conflict, such as the Kivus, to Tanganyika, the three Kasai provinces, Lomami and Kongo Central. Armed group activity in the East has also increased, particularly of late with the resurfacing of former M23 elements.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Maman Sidikou, Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The 31 December agreement provides a clear path towards the holding of elections, setting the stage for MONUSCO's drawdown and exit. The Mission's main strategic objective during the coming months will therefore be to support the establishment of an environment conducive to the timely holding of peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Maman Sidikou, Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“Despite the delays in the political process, significant progress has been achieved in updating the electoral register. To date, more than19 million electors have been registered and the registration process is about to begin in the two remaining operational registration zones.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Maman Sidikou, Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO):
“The continued depreciation of the Congolese Franc, which has lost over 30 percent of its value in the last year, the lack of foreign currency reserves and the fiscal shortfall are increasingly impacting on the livelihoods of Congolese citizens, and will continue to do so in the coming months.”
11. Wide shot, Council

Storyline

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Maman Sidikou, told the Security Council today (21 Mar) that “the deteriorating security situation in the DRC remains a source of major concern.”

Sidikou said that, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General, “violence and threats to civilians are no longer concentrated in the Eastern DRC. Community-based violence and inter-ethnic clashes have spread from areas already affected by armed conflict, such as the Kivus, to Tanganyika, the three Kasai provinces, Lomami and Kongo Central.”

He pointed out that “armed group activity in the East has also increased, particularly of late with the resurfacing of former M23 elements.”

The Special Representative noted that the political agreement of 31 December “provides a clear path towards the holding of elections, setting the stage for MONUSCO's drawdown and exit.”

He said that supporting “the establishment of an environment conducive to the timely holding of peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement” will be the mission's main strategic objective during the coming months.

Sidikou said that “despite the delays in the political process, significant progress has been achieved in updating the electoral register.”

To date, he noted, “more than19 million electors have been registered and the registration process is about to begin in the two remaining operational registration zones.”

On the humanitarian situation, he said “the continued depreciation of the Congolese Franc, which has lost over 30 percent of its value in the last year, the lack of foreign currency reserves and the fiscal shortfall are increasingly impacting on the livelihoods of Congolese citizens, and will continue to do so in the coming months.”

The report of the Secretary-General also sets out a package of measures aimed at enhancing the ability of the MONUSCO force in the current security context through the adoption of a more mobile, flexible and agile posture.