Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

On 20 December 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/788/CFSP^f1.

On 17 October 2016, the Council adopted conclusions expressing deep concern at the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In particular it strongly condemned the acts of extreme violence that took place on 19 and 20 September in Kinshasa, noting that those acts further exacerbated the deadlock in the country due to the failure to call the presidential elections by the constitutional deadline of 20 December 2016.

The Council stressed that, in order to create a climate conducive to dialogue and the holding of elections, the Government of the DRC must clearly commit to ensuring that human rights and the rule of law are respected and must cease all use of the justice system as a political tool. It also called on all stakeholders to reject the use of violence.

The Council also indicated its readiness to use all the means at its disposal, including restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations, those who promote violence and those who try to obstruct a consensual and peaceful solution to the crisis which respects the aspiration of the people of the DRC to elect their representatives.

Decision 2010/788/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly.

Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: