The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently elected a
president of the republic through democratic process for the first time since
1961. Mr. Joseph Kabila won the democratic elections earning 58.05% of the vote
defeating his rival Jean Pierre Bemba. The
result was recently announced by the National Independent Electoral Commission
and will soon be analyzed by the high court of justice.
Upon this landmark event in the DRC, what role did the UNA-DRC play?
According to Cissa Wa Numbe, the Secretary-General of the UNA of DRC, since the
war started the following endeavors were undertaken:
1. UNA-DRC was engaged in advocacy campaigns and spreading information for
peace,
human rights, justice, free press and media. Often this was a costly endeavor
because some from UNA-DRC were imprisoned, the office ransacked and materials
were seized.
2. When the UN came to the aid of an agonizing DRC, UNA-DRC restarted their activities
that were suspended by force by the warlords. Then we worked in partnership
with the UN mission in the DRC 'MONUC in areas of peacekeeping and peacemaking.
Most of the role was to educate and inform citizens about the UN mission in the
DRC and counteract the flow of misinformation. UNA-DRC launched an information,
education and sensitization campaign aimed to mobilize public understanding and
support toward the UN mission. UNA-DRC organized about 21 seminars, workshops
and discussion group meetings within universities, schools, and with community
groups/civil society organizations at the national and local levels. During
this time, UN mission representatives came to speak directly to the public. UNA-DRC
built bridges between the UN and Congolese people that opened a way to
constructive dialogues between the two groups.
3. When the peace accords were signed, UNA-DRC immediately launched a conflict
prevention and peace building action program. For two years, UNA-DRC was a
leading civil society peace worker with the aim of supporting and promoting the
UN, international community and governmental peace process. This had been done through
seminars, workshops, radio program and training, bulletins. In addition, UNA-DRC
translated the peace accords into four national languages.
4. At the time of the elections, UNA-DRC was officially accredited with
monitoring and observation status. Therefore, with support from UNA Sweden, UNA-DRC
trained and deployed 386 national and international activists who monitored and
observed both the parliamentary and presidential elections. UNA-DRC was the
only national organization that was accredited to produce a report to the National
Independent Electoral Commission on election observation. UNA-DRC concluded
that the elections were held and organized in a calm, free and fair way.
5. At regional level, UNA-DRC was the only UNA and amongst very few international
voluntary organizations to have been accredited with official observer status
to the International UN -African Union led peace, security, democracy and
development process. This endeavor was led by Mr. Ibrahima Fall, the UN SG special
representative in the
6. UNA-DRC concedes that the election it self does not mark the end of the
process; rather the beginning of a new journey in a country that has seen two
wars, 15 years of chronic instability. UNA-DRC believes that the country is
entering a period of transition toward development and reconstruction with a
goal to improve the health, education, and poverty of the Congolese. Due to its
immense mineral resources
7. The UN mission has proved its effectiveness; peace will always prevail if UNA-DRC
is committed and united DRC. It has given hope and let people smile again. Many
years of suffering have been replaced with new prospects for education,
professional training, school, and normal family life! These are examples some
of the things the UN has achieved in the DRC. The mission however is not over
and UNA-DRC still needs the continued support for the new elected government by
the UN and international community in order to ensure the Congolese people a
bright future.
As for UNA-DRC, we are now focusing on the post elections and war period and UNA-DRC
have put in place an action plan for the next 2-3 years based on the following
key major issues:
1. Conflict prevention: reconciliation, mediation, and tolerance.
2. Good governance, human rights and democratic process: UNA-DRC
need to establish a strong civil society 'watch dog' to pressure the DRC government
to deliver its promises in areas of MDGS, peace, human rights, and democratic
institutions and gender issues.
3. UNA-DRC will accomplish these tasks through capacities of
building the following action strategies: education, training, empowerment,
sensitization using seminars, workshops, advocacy campaigns, practical projects
and activities with community groups and grass roots organizations. UNA-DRC
will engage, equip and empower women, girls and young people to actively
participate and contribute on equal basis.
Any one interested to hear and learn about this action plan and or to support us
please get in touch.
Yours sincerely in peace
Cissa Wa Numbe
Secretary General
United Nations Association of DRC
