In a press release, the representative of the UN Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on behalf of himself and of the United Nations system as a whole, expressed his condolences to the biological family of Etienne Tshisekedi, the Congolese government and the entire Congolese population.
« It is with sadness and consternation that I learned of the death yesterday 1 February 2017 in Brussels, Belgium, of Mr Etienne Tshisekedi, President of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and President of the Council of Sages of the Rally of the Forces Acquired for Change « , says the head of MONUSCO.
« In this sad and painful circumstance, I express, both on my own behalf and on behalf of the United Nations system in the DRC, my deep and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the Government of the DRC, and to the entire Congolese people, and I applaud his significant contribution in promoting democracy in the DRC, » he said.
Mom Sidikou, through this statement, call the politicians for calm and restraint in order to complete the ongoing negotiations around the bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), which should lead the DRC to peaceful and credible elections.
« Stressing the historic turning point in which the Congolese political actors are engaged, I urge all political actors to honor his memory by a resolute commitment to the full implementation of the political agreement signed on 31 December 2016 under the mediation of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO).
I also call for calm and restraint on the part of all political actors, in order to continue the negotiations and lead to the organization of credible, transparent and peaceful elections, » he concluded.