Withdrawal of MONUSCO from the DRC: the UN deputy secretary general visits South Kivu

The Deputy Secretary General for United Nations Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is ​​staying in the province of South Kivu where he discussed with the provincial authorities the MONUSCO disengagement plan.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN number two for peacekeeping operations, during the funeral of soldiers who died in eastern DRC, August 1, 2022. AFP - ALEXIS HUGUET

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With our correspondent in Bukavu

,

William Basimike

By the end of April 2024, around 2,000 peacekeepers

will leave South Kivu

. Jean-Pierre Lacroix went to ensure that this withdrawal will be carried out in accordance with MONUSCO's disengagement plan, which requires Congolese defense and security forces to occupy the positions formerly occupied by MONUSCO. 

Acquired from MONUSCO

During discussions with the governor of South Kivu, Jean-Pierre Lacroix hoped that all the achievements of MONUSCO would be preserved for the benefit of the Congolese population after the withdrawal of MONUSCO, but he recognized that security problems persist: “

The A peacekeeping mission is not made to remain in a country forever,

he said,

and that is why we had this disengagement plan. Of course there are still hot spots that we discussed with the governor; this is the reason why, and it is also provided for by the disengagement plan in full, that the gradual disengagement of MONUSCO elements takes place in parallel at the same pace as the arrival of the Congolese armed and security forces. .

»

“ 

We want things to happen calmly

 ”

While thousands of displaced people from North Kivu,

where the fighting continues

, continue to flow towards South Kivu, the governor of the province Théo Ngwabidje wants to be reassuring: measures are being taken to restore peace after the departure of the Monusco. “

The threat is there, but I believe that, as soon as MONUSCO leaves, it will be supplemented by the FARDC. I believe that the government of the Republic will do its job, that is to say, protect its population. We want things to happen calmly

 ,” he assures.

The Under-Secretary General for United Nations Peace Operations also collected the expectations of civil society actors on the withdrawal of the UN mission. This Sunday, Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit a Monusco base located in Mikenge in the Mwenga territory where the UN force ensures the protection of thousands of internally displaced people, who camp around the base.

Read alsoDRC: government and UN sign a MONUSCO withdrawal plan

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