UN / DRC

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Leila Zerrougui, told the Security Council that the country “finds itself at a crossroads” and called on all stakeholders “to seize this historic opportunity to enable the conduct of inclusive, transparent, and credible elections” later this year. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:13
• Production Date: 26 July 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: LEILA ZERROUGUI
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - MONUSCO
• Subject Topical: ELECTIONS; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 2208820
• Parent Id: 2208820
• Alternate Title: unifeed180726c

Description

STORY: UN / DRC
TRT: 02:13
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 JULY 2018, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

26 JULY 2018, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Close up, DRC representative
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative, Head, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO):
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo finds itself at a crossroads. For this reason, I would call upon all stakeholders to seize this historic opportunity to enable the conduct of inclusive, transparent, and credible elections on 23 December 2018 in order to pave the way for a more stable future in the DRC for Congolese men and women.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative, Head, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO):
“As we stand fewer than five months before the conduct of elections on 23 December 2018, the preparations have achieved a key turning point. Yesterday, 25 July, reception offices for candidates for presidential and legislative elections opened. These elections continue to generate great expectations, both among the Congolese people and the international community.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative, Head, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO):
“Against the backdrop of immense logistical and financial challenges, all major political parties were able to successfully enroll candidates for provincial legislative elections.”
9. Wide shot, Council
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ignace Gata Mavita Wa Lufuta, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo:
“My government’s wish has always been to conduct smooth elections in a peaceful environment. This requires commitment from all political actors as well as the majority and opposition. It is incumbent upon to refrain from any rhetoric and conduct that is liable to stoke tensions and trigger unrest. Now that the electoral process is sufficiently advanced and the last step is under way, the best attitude that my country’s government expects from all political stakeholders of all affiliations is to support this process constructively through positive actions.”
11. Zoom out Council

Storyline

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Leila Zerrougui, today (26 Jul) told the Security Council that the country “finds itself at a crossroads” and called on all stakeholders “to seize this historic opportunity to enable the conduct of inclusive, transparent, and credible elections” later this year.

The Special Representative said that “fewer than five months before the conduct of elections on 23 December 2018, the preparations have achieved a key turning point” as reception offices for candidates for presidential and legislative elections were officially opened on Wednesday (25 Jul).

These elections, she said, “continue to generate great expectations, both among the Congolese people and the international community.”

Zerrougui stressed that “against the backdrop of immense logistical and financial challenges,” significant progress in the preparation for the elections was made, with all major political parties being able to successfully enrol candidates for provincial legislative elections.

DRC Ambassador Ignace Gata Mavita Wa Lufuta, told the Council that the government’s wish “has always been to conduct smooth elections in a peaceful environment.”

He said “this requires commitment from all political actors as well as the majority and opposition. It is incumbent upon to refrain from any rhetoric and conduct that is liable to stoke tensions and trigger unrest. Now that the electoral process is sufficiently advanced and the last step is under way, the best attitude that my country’s government expects from all political stakeholders of all affiliations is to support this process constructively through positive actions.”

More than 18,000 candidates for office have registered in order to contest 715 seats.