The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Wednesday calling for presidential and legislative elections in Congo to be held on schedule in November and rejecting the government's demand to cut the 20,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in the country in half by the end of the year, according to AP. Congo's U.N. Ambassador Ignace Gata Mavita expressed regret that the council kept the peacekeeping mission's ceiling at its current level and didn't even agree to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's recommendation of a 1,700-member reduction. The council took note of Ban's recommendation but said any change in the U.N. force, known as MONUSCO, should be determined in consultation with the Congolese government "on the basis of the evolution of the situation on the ground," a reduction in violence against civilians, and establishing "accountable state institutions" including for security and justice. The resolution extending the mandate of the U.N. mission until March 31, 2017 was adopted at a time of rising tension over November's scheduled elections. Congo's President Joseph Kabila is meant to leave office in December but the opposition fears he will postpone the election timeline to stay in power. The council called for a "credible dialogue" to ensure peaceful elections and urged all parties to cooperate with the African Union which is undertaking consultations to get the parties together.
