BAN KI-MOON AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

By

Sylvain Muyali

It has been announced that the United Nations will implement a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in November, for a strategic review of MONUSCO and all aspects of its peacekeeping missions to be undertaken.

The Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, who during a meeting on September 25 in New York, reiterated to President Joseph Kabila that the UN supports the Congolese government’s efforts in consolidating peace and accelerating the process of reforms in the country. He praised “the significant progress made in the final settlement of the problem of negative forces, including the FDLR,” urging them also to “continue the ongoing reforms, consolidation of peace in the region and the promotion of sustainable development in the DRC.”

President Kabila meanwhile, assured the UN Secretary General of the DRC’s firm commitment in engaging all leaders in the region and to work for the reconciliation and consolidation of peace, stressing the importance of improved life conditions for its population before renewing the good will of its government.

Ban Ki-moon has also confirmed that he will be attending the first meeting of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL). This is an international organisation based in the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, created in September 1976 for the economic integration and facilitation of goods and people movement between different countries in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda).

In 1994 the Rwandan genocide and Burundi civil war plunged the CEPGL into crisis. Two years later, all agreements were suspended following the attack of the Zairian territorial sovereignty by the troops of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) and Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA).

In 2004, then Minister of Foreign Affairs for Belgium, Louis Michel, invited officials from the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi to Brussels to discuss terms for a possible revival of the CEPGL. It was not until 2010 however that this was finally agreed, following a meeting between the presidents of Burundi and Rwanda

CEPGL’s goal is for regional economic integration among its three members, the free movement of people, goods and capital, regional security and the financing of common institutions in the areas of finance, research and energy.

Sylvain Muyali

Sylvain Muyali is a Journalist, Photographer and Filmmaker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has reported previously for the Associated Press and his words and images can also be found at ‘Vivons Positivement‘