In a statement issued on 19 September 2016 on the demonstrations that rocked the DRC, the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr Nkosazana Zuma said she was following with grave concern the situation in the country.
She deplored “the serious excesses that occurred during the demonstrations organised by some members of the opposition, which, although they were authorized by the competent authorities, resulted in very regrettable loss of life and significant damage to property”.
The Chairperson of the Commission urgently called upon to the Congolese political class as a whole to exercise restraint and a high sense of responsibility so as to give a chance to the ongoing Inclusive National Political Dialogue now in its final stage. According to Zuma, this forum is the only avenue for a consensus to hold transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
The Chairperson of the Commission reiterated the AU’s commitment to spare no effort in strengthening the National Political Dialogue in the DRC.
The Dialogue reached its pen-ultimate stage last week as participants were finalising the agreement that would usher in an interim government and pave the way to polls in the DRC. The members of the opposition attending the dialogue suspended their participation, demanding that the agreement clearly stipulates the date of the presidential election.