Brussels, 03/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU is stepping up its work in preparation for its mission to observe the presidential and legislative elections to be held on 28 November in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), two weeks after expiry of the mandate held by the current president, Joseph Kabila.
Once complete, the electoral observer mission (EOM) headed by MEP Mariya Nedelcheva (EPP, Bulgaria) will be composed of 147 observers (see EUROPE 10432). The framework team of 9 experts based in Kinshasa will coordinate the work to present an impartial assessment of the electoral process.
Since 24 October, 46 long-term observers have been at work in the 11 provinces of the country. They will complete their assignment on 16 December. Of these, 12 have been deployed using overland means in the Lower Congo, Bandundu and the capital, Kinshasa. The other 34 travelled by air to the other Congolese provinces and the last team set up in Uvira on Thursday 3 November. They will be assisted by 92 short term observers as of 21 November, just one week before the ballot.
The security of the observer teams on the ground is ensured by liaison officers working in close collaboration with MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the local authorities. Observers throughout the country will forward their observations to the framework team daily. The preliminary declaration by the electoral observer mission will be presented to the press within 48 hours after the polling stations are closed, and the final report will be issued at the latest four months after the elections.
The electoral observer mission is deployed at the request of the Congolese authorities. It is composed of observers from 29 countries (the 27 countries of the EU plus Switzerland and Canada). All have followed a five-day course in Kinshasa to become familiar with DRC's specific political, electoral, legal and media features. (AN/transl.jl)