DRC election is crucially important, UN Security Council cautions

The United Nations Security Council has insisted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hold presidential elections per the constitution after the country was rocked by deadly violence.

The international body also called for calm in a statement on Wednesday which urges all parties to settle their disputes peacefully.

“The Security Council stresses the crucial importance of holding a peaceful presidential election, credible, transparent, in a timely manner and in compliance with the constitution … We call on the authorities to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of assembly,” the statement read.

The Security Council strongly condemned the violence that has claimed the lives of at least 32 people including four policemen in the capital Kinshasa in two days.

The DRC government maintains that the death toll stood at 17 while the opposition claims that more than 100 people have been killed.

The Human Rights Watch also pegged the death toll at 44 including 37 civilians and 6 police officers.

The violence erupted when the main opposition parties in the country embarked on a demonstration calling for an election on the original date in November and also for Kabila to step down at the end of his term on December 20.

Calm has however returned to the country.