DRC: UN expert to study possible MONUC role in future elections
"MONUC could play a role in the electoral process, but this would have to be mandated by the UN Security Council," Toure said.
The UN expert, Noureddine Driss of Tunisia, will spend two weeks in Kinshasa. However, a transitional national government must first be put into place, an effort currently being orchestrated by the UN secretary-general's special envoy for the peace process in the DRC, Moustapha Niasse. In particular, Niasse is trying to help all parties resolve three outstanding issues by 27 February: a constitution for the transitional period, a united national army, and the personal security of transitional government leaders.
Last week, Niasse told IRIN that a transitional national government could be in place between the end of March and early April.
Under the Pretoria accord, the transitional period could take at least two years, after which nationwide elections would be held.
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