By RFIPissed on 02-09-2019Modified on 02-09-2019 at 02:48

After Goma Saturday and Beni this Sunday, the UN chief arrived in Kinshasa for the last leg of his tour, arguably the most political. He is due to hold talks with President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday, 2 September, as well as the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly and representatives of the opposition and civil society. Among the topics at the heart of these discussions: the future of Monusco and the fight against armed groups.

Yesterday visiting the territory of Beni, Antonio Guterres acknowledged that " more " was needed to fight against armed groups and called for the Security Council to extend the mandate of MONUSCO with " the adjustments considered necessary " for make it more " useful ", while the current mandate expires at the end of December.

For Antonio Guterres, " Monusco has a very important role to play in the DRC ". " Of course one day, it will close ," he said, but for the secretary general, the scenario of a withdrawal "as early as 2020 " as demanded by former president Kabila seems premature. He says " count on the Security Council " to " renew " the mandate of the force at the end of December "with the necessary adjustments" to make it " more useful to the Congolese ". And also pleads for " enhanced cooperation " between Monusco and the Congolese army in the fight against armed groups.

In Joseph Kabila's time, relations between Kinshasa and New York were tumultuous, reducing the United Nations room for maneuver. Monusco and the FARDC have no longer carried out a joint operation against the ADF rebels since last October, giving arguments to those who include in the Security Council plead for quick disengagement and budget cuts.

Will the arrival of Felix Tshisekedi in power change the deal? This is one of the questions that Antonio Guterres will discuss during his talks on Monday. The opportunity probably also to recall that in the eyes of the UN, the return of security does not go not only by military action but also by the end of impunity, the development of the country, strong institutions, and the establishment of a real demobilization program for ex-combatants to provide sustainable prospects for reintegration into civilian life.

    On the same subject

    DRC: Insecurity and Ebola on the menu of Guterres' visit to Beni

    Guterres in the DRC: in Beni, we fight against the Ebola virus and its denial

    DRC: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives in Goma

    comments