EU cancels Congo election observation mission

FILE PHOTO: Congolese police officers secure the streets during a campaign rally of presidential candidate Moise Katumbi in Kitutu village within Mwenga territory of South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo November 24, 2023. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo/File Photo

BRUSSELS/KINSHASA (Reuters) -The European Union has cancelled its election observation mission for the Democratic Republic of Congo's Dec. 20 general elections, saying it would not be able to deploy people across the country for security reasons.

"Due to technical constraints beyond the control of the EU, we are forced to cancel the EU election observation mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.