A/HRC/4/7 page 4 Introduction 1. By its resolution 2004/84 of 21 April 2004, the Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint an independent expert to provide assistance to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the field of human rights, to study the evolving situation of human rights and to verify that obligations in that field were being fulfilled. The independent expert presented his preliminary report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session (E/CN.4/2005/120). He then presented a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth and sixty-first sessions (A/60/395 and A/61/475). He had also prepared a report for the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session (E/CN.4/2006/113), which was to be examined by the Human Rights Council. Like the special procedures and thematic mandates of the Commission on Human Rights, the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was extended for one year by decision 1/102 of the Human Rights Council. This report was drawn up pursuant to that decision. 2. This report is based on information transmitted regularly to the independent expert by the field office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and representatives of institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), political parties and associations. The report reflects information received up to 31 December 2006. 3. The varied information received revealed that, while attention must be focused on the electoral process under way, lack of security, impunity and serious human rights violations remain cause for concern. 4. Following the announcement of the results of the first round of the presidential elections held on 30 July 2006, the independent expert was informed of a sudden and serious deterioration in the social climate between 20 and 22 August, with clashes, involving heavy weaponry, between the close protection officers of the two winners of the first round of the presidential elections - President Joseph Kabila and his Vice-President, Jean-Pierre Bemba. In this regard, on 25 August 2006, the independent expert sent them both a letter setting out his analysis of the situation and his recommendations. I. STATUS OF THE TRANSITION - INSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL LIFE 5. On 22 August 2006, after the meetings held on 21 and 22 August between the International Committee in Support of the Transition (ICST) and President Kabila and Vice-President Bemba, respectively, a working group was set up to “normalize the situation, with a view to contemplating the second round of the presidential elections in a calm and relaxed manner” (see A/61/475, para. 56). 6. The first meeting between President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba took place on 13 September 2006, on the occasion of the meeting of the espace présidentiel and of the Supreme Defence Council, three weeks after the violent incidents of 20 and 22 August.