UN Warns That Political Polarization In DR Congo May Spark ‘Large-Scale Violence

Demonstrators at the Echangeur de Limete, Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Photo: Habibou Bangre/IRIN

UN News Centre: Political polarization in DR Congo may spark ‘large-scale violence,’ UN envoy warns Security Council

11 October 2016 – Warning of an extremely fragile political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where “actors on all sides appear more and more willing to resort to violence to achieve their ends,” the top United Nations official in the country called today on the Security Council to urge the parties to return to dialogue, guarantee the right to peaceful opposition and to end impunity for violence.

“The tipping point towards grave violence could arrive very rapidly,” said Maman Sidikou, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). “I believe the Council must remain actively seized of the situation,” also encouraging regional organizations to engage more closely with the situation.

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Update #1: UN warns of large-scale violence from DR Congo crisis (AFP)
Update #2: Congo political rift likely to spark 'large-scale' violence: U.N. (Reuters)

WNU editor: These warnings may be too late .... Citizens of DR Congo will have to wait two more years to choose a president (Quartz).