ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) hailed on Thursday the progress in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) towards presidential and legislative elections.
Initially marked for Dec. 31, 2017, the DRC elections were rescheduled for December 23, and August 8 had been set as the closing date of the submission of candidatures for the elections.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, noted in a statement with satisfaction the key milestone attained on Wednesday in the electoral process in the DRC.
Faki welcomed the fact that President Joseph Kabila Kabange has honored his commitment to abide by the relevant provisions of the Congolese Constitution and those of the New Year's Eve Political Agreement on eligibility for the presidency of the republic.
President Kabila has made a gesture of high political value in the best interests of his country, said Faki.
He urged all actors concerned to work together, in good faith, to hold peaceful, transparent and truly inclusive elections.
It is imperative that the Congolese people can freely, and in full sovereignty, decide on their fate, the Chairperson said, reiterating the 55-member Union's commitment to supporting the electoral process.
