and Bhunju Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
25 July 2006
Kinshasa - The leader of the South African Observer Mission (SAOM), Deputy
Defence Minister Mluleki George, will visit Goma (eastern DRC) and Bhunju Mayi
(central DRC) on Wednesday, 26 July and Thursday, 27 July 2006 respectively to
assess the state of readiness for the July 30 Presidential and Parliamentary
elections. Deputy Minister Mluleki George's visit will provide SAOM with an
opportunity to get first-hand information on the security situation and
logistical arrangements for the forthcoming DRC elections. In this regard, the
leader of the SAOM will, amongst others, have consultations with the Regional
Commissioners of Police and Regional Commanders of the Armed Forces for a
briefing on the security situation in the run up to the elections and beyond.
Deputy Minister Mluleki George is currently leading the SAOM to the DRC. The
SAOM is stationed in the DRC until 4 August 2006 to observe all phases of the
elections, including election campaigns, the voting process and the counting of
votes. They are deployed in twenty four (24) designated result centres out of a
total of sixty four (64) in all the eleven (11) provinces.
Enquiries: Vincent Hlongwane
Tel: +27 82 385 1169
Sam Mkhwanazi
Tel: +27 83 628 0858
Lindo Nkomonde
Tel: +27 82 875 9631
Issued by: South African Observer Mission
25 July 2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)
