A visit by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to the Democratic Republic of Congo would be "inopportune", a top presidential aide has said as the country prepares for twice-delayed elections.
In response to "the wish of the UN secretary general to visit the DRC... we thought it was inopportune at this time," presidential diplomatic adviser Kikaya Bin Karubi told AFP yesterday.
He cited "the pressing business of the country and the negotiations that are under way" at a time when Western powers are urging President Joseph Kabila to state clearly that he will not seek re-election.
Kabila has been critical of the UN peacekeeping mission to the DRC (MONUSCO), which has pledged to protect civilians in the run-up to the elections now set for December 23.
In late January, Kabila said MONUSCO should leave the vast, conflict-wracked central African country by 2020 at the latest.
MONUSCO spokeswoman Florence Marchal told AFP that "no date has been announced" for a visit by Gutteres. "For now, nothing is planned."
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