UN confident Congolese capital is safe ahead of run-off vote

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 17, 2006

Nairobi- A high-ranking UN official assured Tuesday that Congolese and international troops would be able to secure the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo in case of violence during the second round of voting in elections later this month. Violence in the capital Kinshasa between supporters of incumbent Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba after the first round of voting on July 30 killed 23 people.

The Congolese return to the polls for a run-off ballot on October 29 bringing to a close the country's first democratic elections in four decades.

"Security is the overriding concern," said Roberto Valent, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) deputy country director for DRC, speaking in Nairobi. "There has been a lot of work - both visible and invisible but all effective - to ensure Kinshasa is safe."

A combined force of Congolese, UN and EU troops were patrolling the capital and conducting arms searches in the lead-up to the vote, he said.

While the force has confiscated dozens of weapons in its searches, experts say the presidential candidates' armed private guards pose the real security risk.

"Some forces must be armed for security reasons. But there are far less arms in the city," Valent said.

He added that the war-weary Congolese wanted peace and that recent signs of cooperation by the presidential frontrunners - agreeing to disarm the capital and to respect the election results - would contribute to improving security during the run-off vote.

He downplayed the earlier violence and logistical problems that have plagued the election in the country the size of Western Europe, which has only about 500 kilometres of paved road.

"The election committee has done a superb job. When viewed within the framework of the African context, they've done better than in Florida," he said, referring to the 2000 election battle between US President George W Bush and Al Gore.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency