EU cancels DRC election observation mission

The European Union cancelled its election observation mission for the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) December 20 general elections, saying it would not be able to deploy observers across the country for security reasons.

"Due to technical constraints beyond the control of the EU, we are forced to cancel the EU election observation mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The EU mission had planned to deploy long-term observers in most provinces of the DRC, but this is now no longer possible," it said, without giving further details.

EU spokesperson Nabila Massrali told Reuters on Tuesday that election observers were already in Kinshasa and were supposed to be deployed across the country on Nov. 21, but that they were not able to go for security reasons.

Tensions are running high in the run-up to presidential, legislative, and regional elections in Africa's second-largest country, which is also struggling to contain a myriad of armed groups in its mineral-rich east.

A youth activist was killed on Tuesday by stones pelted during an opposition campaign rally in the city of Kindu.

Opposition candidates have also expressed concerns about the fairness of the vote, alleging irregularities that play in favour of the ruling coalition during voter registration. The electoral commission has denied this.

The electoral commission and Congolese authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

The EU said it was exploring other options with the Congolese authorities, including the possibility of maintaining a mission of electoral experts to observe the electoral process from the capital.

Reuters