UN peacekeeping mission in DRC outline future plans

By

Darell Maurice

The spokesman of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, Felix Prosper Basse, earlier this week hosted his weekly press conference at the organisation’s headquarters in Gombe.

Regarding the security aspect, he noted the controversy between figures provided by MONUSCO under which nearly a thousand FDLR troops against roughly 400 for the government are still present on Congolese soil.

On this point, Felix Prosper Basse stated that there is no conflict situation on the figures in both parties, but that the statistics should be treated with caution as they fluctuate given the many factors that come into play, including the rugged terrain occupied by these negative forces in the DRC.

He also noted that this estimate was made following a map drawn at the time, in South Kivu, North Kivu and parts of Maniema and Katanga.

Before reiterating the support of MONUSCO to the Congolese armed forces in the search for peace, he stressed that the UN mission saluted the work done primarily by the FARDC in tracking down Rwandan rebels.

Answering the question as to whether the United Nations requires the Rwandan president to speak with the Congolese authorities to once and for all find a solution to this problem, the MONUSCO spokesman stated that, in line with their current practices, the United Nations does not impose a decision on such matters. He recalled that the FDLR problem is taken seriously by the United Nations at all levels (national, regional, continental and global) and the determination of the latter to end this problem is the basis of the creation of the Intervention Brigade.

Regarding a request for the UN mission to take part in military operations against the FDLR, alongside the FARDC, it was noted that the points of divergence between the Congolese government and MONUSCO are being ironed out as part of the “Strategic Dialogue.” MONUSCO regret not having taken part in the fighting, but continue to call for the commitment of the supreme sacrifice of peacekeepers to protect the Congolese population” he stated.

Felix Prosper Basse also returned to the subject of military operations against the FRPI with the destruction of the Rambot camp, where it is reported that there were no injuries as a result. As an explanation for these results, the spokesman noted that these resistant rebels, estimated at approximately 800, currently live with their families and all measures are taken to save innocent lives. Aside from the main aim of the operation, another objective is to bring the militiamen to join the DDR scheme (Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration), a campaign of which was originally conducted.

Darell Maurice

Darell Maurice is a Journalist based in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital city Kinshasa and works for Canal7kintv. He also blogs here.