Delegates from the UN Security Council (UNSC) [official website] on Sunday called on [UN News Centre report] officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to take greater responsibility to adopt a consensual and inclusive electoral calendar. A weekend visit by diplomats from UNSC countries aimed to break the deadlock [Reuters report] over whether President Joseph Kabila should step down before an election that was delayed due to slow voter registration. The Council urged Kabila not to run for a third term, as they believe that it could increase violence in the country and reignite regional conflicts. French Ambassador Francois Delattre said that the delegation highlighted the need for “a broad inclusive framework in order to reach a broad consensus on a specific electoral timetable, accompanied by confidence-building measures.” The Security Council also asked that the ban on public demonstrations be lifted.

UN human rights experts have previously expressed concern over the “unjustified” ban on protests in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC. The statement released by the UN says the rights to protest are fundamental [JURIST report] and that, “[t]he rights to freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are fundamental rights guaranteed by international law.” The ban was imposed as a response to demonstrations held in September that expressed discontent over the delayed presidential elections. The election, originally scheduled for November, was pushed back to 2018, a move feared by members of the opposition to be an attempt [JURIST report] by Kabila to remain in office. Kabila, whose presidential term is set to expire in December, denies any involvement.