DR Congo: days ahead 'critical' to 'historic election process' Security Council hears.

Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative and head of the UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO), said that Congolese voters had shown 'impressive maturity' and patience during the presidential poll, which finally took place on 30 December, two years later than originally planned.

'We must, therefore, show our collective solidarity with them, as the electoral process is finalized, and as the Democratic Republic of the Congo prepares to undertake the first peaceful transfer of power in the country's history', Ms. Zerrougui said via video conference.

The provisional election result declared Felix Tshisekedi the winner on Wednesday, but another leading opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu - who heads the Lamuka coalition - has now formally challenged the vote in court, accusing the authorities of electoral fraud. This opposition to the vote, said Ms. Zerrougi, had the potential 'to provoke disorder throughout the country'.

According to Ms. Zerrougui, all national and international observation missions, as well as MONUSCO teams deployed on the ground, reported that despite technical, logistical and security problems, citizens had not been hindered in exercising their right to vote, adding that the delayed publication of results, had not led to any breakdown in public order.

She told the Council that reactions to CENI's announcement had been 'swift and varied', and welcomed Mr. Tshisekedi, who vowed to be a president 'for all Congolese'.

'Supreme sense of responsibility' must prevail

Ms. Zerrougui told Council members there had been some 'serious security incidents', including violent protests in Kwilu province that have reportedly left at least twelve dead. She said that MONUSCO teams were being deployed there to determine the facts and 'engage with a view to de-escalating tension'.

Injuries, arrests and unverified deaths were also reported in Kisangani, the country's third largest city, and several locations in Kasai province. Meanwhile a 'tense situation' also prevails in several Kinshasa communes.

'I deplore all such acts of violence, and appeal to the Congolese people and security forces alike to exercise calm and restraint in this critical period', she underscored.

With the final results expected to be announced within a week, she said she would 'continue to discharge my good offices, engaging with all Congolese stakeholders, to reinforce the need for calm and recourse to established judicial proceedures and to emphasize that a supreme sense of...