$100m for DRC polls

2005-07-12 09:55

Brussels - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and international donors agreed on Monday to provide almost $100m in additional funds to support next year's key elections in the Central African nation.

The DRC's finance minister Andre-Phillippe Futa announced $20m of the new money will come from the state budget, according to a statement from the European Union (EU). The EU co-hosted the conference with the United Nations (UN).

Others contributing included Belgium, Britain, Germany and Switzerland, the EU said.

The EU's top aid official, development commissioner Louis Michel, urged the UN Security Council to quickly clear an extra $103m needed to pay for aircraft and other logistics support for the vote.

Together with previously pledged aid, that would take contributions close to the $425m estimated total cost of the election.

Optimistic about upcoming presidential elections

DRC's tenuous transitional government has promised presidential elections for March 2006 - the first nationwide presidential vote since the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

The transitional government was established in 2003 at the end of the DRC's devastating five-year war.

Before the conference, Michel warned the rival factions against any moves to undermine the vote.

"It's important to remind all the DRC players it would be inexcusable and unforgivable to cause the process to fail," he said.

Despite continued unrest, particularly in the east of the giant African nation, the UN's special envoy was upbeat on preparations for the vote.

"Things are going well with voter registration," said William Lacy Swing. "We're encouraged by several elements."

However, he said the election would be the most challenging the UN has ever been involved in helping organise.

- AP