DFA PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON THE DRC ELECTIONS AND RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT POA
14 MARCH 2007
Introduction
· The successful conclusion of
democratic elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) marked the
official end of the transitional period.
·
South Africa had deployed a National Observer Mission (SAOM) to observe
both rounds of the DRC elections
·
Concluded that elections were democratic, peaceful, credible and transparent.
·
Following the successful elections, South Africa will embark on post
conflict reconstruction and development in the DRC
·
The programme will focus on 3 critical areas:
- Security Sector Reform
- Institutional Capacity Building
- Economic Development.
·
The mandate of MONUC was recently extended for two months until 15 April
2007
·
The UN Secretary General is expected to present a report on the future
role of MONUC in the DRC.
· The role of the international
community remains critical in the immediate to long term development of the
DRC.
Electoral Process
· The country's landmark
Presidential elections were held over two rounds, July 2006 and October 2006,
· None of the Presidential
candidates received the 50% majority needed to win the election in the first
round.
·
A total of thirty-three (33) presidential candidates had registered for
the first round of elections.
·
The UDPS, led by Mr Tshisekedi
boycotted the elections with allegations that basic conditions for a
transparent vote had not been met.
·
The UDPS still refuses to be part of the new government.
·
In general, the elections were violence free.
· There were minor skirmishes
between supporters of Bemba and Kabila in Kinshasa and other parts of the
country leading to a few deaths.
· Run-off between President
Joseph Kabila and former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba held 29 October 2006.
· 65% of the DRC's 25,4 million
registered voters participated during the elections.
· Final results announced on 15
November, gave 58,05 % of the votes to Kabila , against 41,95 % for Bemba.
· DRC's electoral law, provides a
three-day window period during which the Supreme Court received and heard
objections within seven days to examine such objections.
· Mr Bemba filed a formal
challenge to the Supreme Court against the provisional results, alleging
"systematic cheating", falsified results, blocking of party
representatives at polling stations, and stuffing of ballot boxes.
·
On 27 November 2006, the DRC's Supreme Court, confirmed Joseph Kabila as
the new President of the DRC;
· Also upheld the election
results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
· South Africa deployed a
National Observer Mission to observe both rounds of the DRC elections.
· A 105-member South African
Observer Mission (SAOM) observed the three phases of the election that included
the campaigning, the elections day, and the counting process.
· The SAOM noted that the
election campaign process proceeded in a relatively peaceful environment.
· Political candidates were able
to conduct their election campaigns.
· Rallies were well attended and
in most cases went without incidents.
· The SAOM noted with regret that
lives were lost during isolated incidents of violence after the first round.
·
Generally the election campaigns proceeded peacefully and voters were not
deterred or intimidated from going to voting stations on Election Day.
· The SAOM concluded that
elections were peaceful, credible, democratic and transparent.
· On 22 September 2006, a new
500-member National Assembly was inaugurated replacing the transitional
parliament created under the 2002 Global and All-Inclusive Agreement.
· Landmark development in the
history of the DRC, being the first democratically elected Parliament in over
forty years.
· According to the DRC's
Constitution, the majority political party in parliament should elect a Prime Minister.
· No party or coalition received
an outright majority in the legislative elections - political parties formed
alliances for control of Parliament.
· The Alliance for Presidential
Majority (AMP) aligned to President Kabila teamed up with Mr Antoine Gizenga
and Mr Mobutu, amongst others.
· This gave them the required
majority to nominate a Prime Minister.
· Mr. Vital Kamerhe was elected
President of the National Assembly on 28 December 2006 with Mr. Antoine Gizenga
being appointed, by means of a Presidential Ordinance, as Prime Minister on 30
December 2006.
· Both Mr. Kamerhe and Mr.
Gizenga are part of the dominant AMP-PALU-UDEMO coalition that has formed a
majority in the National Assembly.
· Senatorial elections took place
on 19 January 2007 while the elections of Provincial Governors and Deputy
Governors were held on 27 January 2007
· AMP Alliance gained a majority
of Senators in 7 of the 11provinces
· The remaining 4, including the
town-province of Kinshasa, went to the UN (Union for the Nation) of Jean-Pierre
Bemba (who was also elected Senator for Kinshasa).
· More than 30 days after
Gizenga's appointment as Prime Minister and 60 days after Kabila's inauguration
as elected President, the DRC's first democratic Government was finally
announced on 5 February 2007.
· The Government is made up of a
total of 60 executive members. 6 Ministers of State, 34 Ministers and 20 Deputy
Ministers.
· Prime Minister, Mr Antoine
Gizenga, presented the DRC government's plan of action to the National Assembly
on 24 February 2007.
· Programme aimed at putting the
war-torn country on the road to economic recovery and prioritises development
in the DRC.
· New measures to increase
security, justice, fight against corruption and poverty are articulated.
· The plan received overwhelming
Parliamentary support.
South African Post Conflict Reconstruction and
Development approach
· Following successful elections,
the challenge ahead is that of Post Conflict Reconstruction of the DRC.
· South Africa's engagement in
the DRC is guided by the African Agenda.
· The programme is informed by
the African Union's Post Conflict, Reconstruction and Development Programme (PCRD).
· A number of SA Depts are
already engaging in various projects to assist the DRC.
· South Africa's engagement with
the DRC focuses on 3 critical support areas, ie.
- Institutional Capacity Building; Security Sector
Reform and Economic Development.
· President Joseph Kabila, during
his inauguration, identified five priorities for the DRC's post election
reconstruction and development, ie. infrastructure; employment; education;
water and electricity; security sector reform; and health, among others.
· SA's plan is therefore in sync
with priorities identified by the DRC government.
· Security Sector Reform DOD, SAPS and DOJ&CD):
- The Security Sector Reform is of vital importance to
the post electoral period in the DRC
- An integrated armed force is essential to protect the
sovereignty of the country.
- A capable police force is also essential for
maintaining law and order within the country.
- The objective of the assistance of the Department of
Defence (DOD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) is to integrate and
develop the capacity of the armed forces to contribute to the creation of a
safe and secure environment for the citizens of the DRC.
- The Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development (DOJ&CD) is to assist in the capacity building of the judiciary.
Institutional Capacity Building (DFA, DPSA, DHA, DPLG, and Housing):
Capacity building of state institutions is essential for the efficient working
of the state institutions.
- DFA: capacity building for the DRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (training of
diplomats).
- DPSA: public service census and the development of a training academy for
public servants.
- DPLG: capacity building for the DRC provincial and local government,
formulation and implementation of the Organic Law for the DRC Provinces.
- Home Affairs: training of immigration and civic services officials; provision
of relevant equipment and infrastructure.
- Housing plans to provide technical expertise in the
field of housing.
- Assistance will be provided in developing enabling legislations to develop
housing and urban renewal projects.
· Economic Development (DTI, DOA, DOT, DME)
- Economic recovery constitutes a major challenge for
the DRC
- South Africa, together with the DRC, is exploring
measures to unlock investment and trade opportunities in the country.
- Targeted areas of intervention are: infrastructure
development (DOT and DPW); electrification and mining (DME); spatial
development initiatives (DTI) and promotion /development of Agriculture (
DOA);capacity building in revenue collection (Treasury and SARS).
·
Conclusion
· Political and economic
stability in the DRC will impact positively in the Great lakes and SADC
regions.
· The continued support of the
international community remains critical.
· The reconstruction and
development process must be owned and managed by the Congolese people.
·
South Africa therefore sees herself as a partner for peace, reconstruction and development in DRC.
Mindful of the funding challenges and to successfully
pursue the post conflict programme, South Africa will need to pursue trilateral
co-operation with identified international partners.
THANK YOU