III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 485 

To encourage the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

to abide by constitutional provisions regarding the holding of presidential 

elections in 2016, with the aim of ensuring a peaceful and orderly 

democratic transition of power. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 9, 2016 

Mr. FLAKE (for himself, Mr. COONS, Mr. ISAKSON, and Mr. DURBIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

To encourage the Government of the Democratic Republic 

of the Congo to abide by constitutional provisions regarding the holding of presidential elections in 2016, with 

the aim of ensuring a peaceful and orderly democratic 

transition of power. 

Whereas the United States Government has supported and 

will continue to support the principle that the people of 

the Democratic Republic of the Congo (in this resolution 

referred to as ‘‘the DRC’’) should choose their own government in accordance with their constitution and all relevant laws and regulations; 

Whereas the constitution of the DRC requires that elections 

be held in time for the inauguration of a new president 


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•SRES 485 IS 

on December 19, 2016, when the current presidential 

term expires; 

Whereas, on March 30, 2016, the United Nations Security 

Council adopted Resolution 2277, which called upon the 

Government of the DRC and its national partners, including the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission), ‘‘to ensure a transparent and credible electoral 

process, in fulfillment of their primary responsibility to 

create propitious conditions for the forthcoming elections 

. . . scheduled for November 2016 in accordance with 

the Constitution’’ and urged the Government of the DRC 

and all relevant parties to ensure an electoral environment conducive to a ‘‘free, fair, credible, inclusive, transparent, peaceful, and timely electoral process, in accordance with the Congolese constitution’’; 

Whereas events in the DRC over the last year and a half 

have called into serious question the commitment of the 

Government of the DRC to hold such elections on the required timeline, and President Joseph Kabila has not 

publicly committed to stepping down at the end of his 

term; 

Whereas there are 12 presidential elections slated to take 

place on the continent of Africa by the end of 2017, and 

what transpires in the DRC will set an important example for the leaders of those countries; and 

Whereas many observers have expressed concern that failure 

to move ahead with elections in the DRC could lead to 

violence and instability inside the DRC, which could reverberate throughout central Africa’s Great Lakes region: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 485 IS 

1 (1) urges the Government of the DRC and all 

2 other relevant parties to engage in a credible, inde3 pendently monitored, and technical dialogue to reach 

4 consensus on a way forward on establishing a de5 tailed electoral calendar and organizing elections; 

6 (2) urges the Government of the DRC to re7 spect the constitution of the DRC and, as constitu8 tionally required, to ensure a free, open, peaceful, 

9 and democratic transition of power; 

10 (3) expresses its solidarity with the people of 

11 the DRC to choose their own government in an at12 mosphere free of violence, threats, and intimidation 

13 by the government or other parties, including the re14 lease of Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala; 

15 (4) commits to maintain vigilance and scrutiny 

16 of the electoral process in the DRC, to help ensure 

17 that all United States Government activities con18 tribute fully and robustly to the above-mentioned ob19 jectives; and 

20 (5) pledges to examine continuously the use of 

21 all available and appropriate means to ensure these 

22 objectives, including the imposition of targeted sanc23 tions on individuals or entities responsible for vioVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:46 Jun 09, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR485.IS SR485

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•SRES 485 IS 

1 lence and human rights violations and undermining 

2 democratic processes in the DRC. 

Æ 


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