The AU appeals to all the Congolese parties to show restraint and a sense of responsibility in their reaction to the results of the elections held on 28 November 2011
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 5, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Jean Ping, continues to follow very closely the evolution of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly following the presidential and legislative elections, held on 28 November 2011. In this regard, he emphasizes the crucial importance of these elections for the consolidation of peace and the deepening of democracy.
The Chairperson of the Commission pays tribute to the Congolese people for their participation in large numbers in the elections of 28 November 2011, thus bearing evidence to their commitment to the democratic process and their aspiration for peace and stability, and urges them to maintain the necessary calm and serenity for the conclusion of the electoral process.
The Chairperson of the Commission stresses, once again, the decisive historical role of the Congolese political actors in the maintenance of a peaceful post-electoral political climate, which is indispensable for the success of the efforts made for the socio-economic development of their country. In this respect, he strongly urges the entire
Congolese political class to demonstrate utmost restraint and a very high sense of responsibility so that the proclamation of the provisional and final results, scheduled respectively on 7 and 17 December 2011, marks a moment of high political maturity and contribute to the enhancement of democracy in the DRC. He underscores, once again, the obligation for all the candidates who may wish to dispute the results of the elections to do so exclusively through the legal means provided for to this end.
The Chairperson of the Commission expresses, once again, his conviction that the people of DRC are capable of demonstrating cohesion and harmony at this important stage of the process of building a pluralistic democracy in the country.