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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday called on political stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to engage in an inclusive dialogue to overcome the impasse in the country's electoral process.
Ban stressed the importance of a credible political dialogue to ensure peaceful and timely presidential and legislative elections in line with constitution, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing.
The UN chief noted that "there is no alternative to a credible political dialogue in the DRC," and he further urged all actors to refrain from any action that could increase tensions or lead to violence.
The register of voters in DRC started in July this year, and the country's electoral commission said the review of electoral register will take 16 months and will be concluded in September 2017.
DRC President Joseph Kabila has said the elections will be held after the operation of registering voters.
According to the DRC constitution, Kabila's second five-year term is supposed to end on Dec. 19, 2016.
The country's opposition parties have been calling for the elections to be held before the end of the year when Kabila's term ends.
