[PRESS CONFERENCE] DR Congo: EurAc & Commission Justice et Paix welcome DRC Bishop Conference's President on 8 Feb 2017 - 10am to 12pm

MEDIA ADVISORY

This Wednesday 8 February, we are glad to welcome our partners of the CENCO (Conférence Épiscopale Nationale du Congo) of DR Congo, notably Monsignor Marcel Utembi, President of the CENCO, which is currently playing a very active and important role of mediator in the current political turmoil in DRC.

In this respect, we would like to invite you to a press conference, from 10am to 12am, in the premises of the Commission Justice et Paix Belgique francophone, a EurAc member organisation (31/6 Rue Maurice Liétart - 1150 Brussels).

The most recent function of the CENCO was to carry out a delicate but very promising mediation between the different political forces of the country and to arbitrate between the different grievances of the majority and the opposition during a national political dialogue. The mediation of the CENCO allowed the signing by the different parties on December 31 of an agreement that allows an exit solution from the crisis, putting in place a political transition pending the organization of elections by the end of 2017. Despite this promising agreement, the signing of the modalities for its implementation did not finally take place. This added to the recent death of the historic opponent Etienne Tshisekedi, the situation is more uncertain than ever. And the CENCO is at the center of all attention, especially that of the international community and the European Union in particular.

Mgr Marcel Utembi, President of the CENCO and Clément Makiobo, Secretary General of the Justice and Peace Commission RD Congo will both be present to share their analyses and ambitions for the future of the talks and of their mediation work and, more generally, for a possible solution to the political crisis in the DRC.

Axelle Fischer (from the Commission Justice et Paix Belgique francophone) and Donatella Rostagno (from the European Network for Central Africa - EurAc) will also participate to present the national and European challenges currently at stake, as well as the commitments that should be taken by Belgium and the EU to allow a democratic, peaceful and concerted exit from the crisis in the DRC.

Individual interviews can be arranged, on request.  

For any media/interview request, please contact:

Julie Capoulade, EurAc Comms & Advocacy Officer, +32 499 81 01 77, julie.capoulade@eurac-network.org 

What? Press conference with Msgr Marcel Utembi, President of the CENCO, Axelle Fischer, Secretary General of Commission Justice et Paix Belgique francophone and Donatella Rostagno, Director of the European Network for Central Africa - EurAc)

When?  Wednesday 8 February 2017 – 10am à 12pm

Where? Commission Justice et Paix Belgique francophone, 31/6, rue Maurice Liétart – 1150 Brussels