MONUSCO Chief on the Democratic Republic of the Congo Situation | UN Security Council Briefing

Briefing by Bintou Keita, Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), on the situation in the Country. The Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, today (28 Sep) called on the Security Council “to express itself clearly on the recommendations set out in the 2 August report of the Secretary-General on the future of the MONUSCO.” Keita noted that the Congolese authorities have already endorsed the revised transition plan for MONUSCO and said, “this is an important step towards accelerating the departure of the Mission, while ensuring that the process is conducted in a gradual and responsible manner.” She stressed that MONUSCO “will now work jointly with the Congolese authorities towards the implementation of this plan, while continuing to deliver on the mandate provided by this Council.” Keita said, “regrettably, the Mission continues to be targeted by mis and disinformation, as well as threats and attacks” and deplored the killing of civilians by national security forces on 30 of August in Goma. The DRC’s Foreign Minister, Christophe Lutundula told the Council that the tactical reorganization proposed by the Congolese Government for MONUSCO’s withdrawal, is aimed firstly, “to defuse ever increasing tensions between MONUSCO and the civilian populations and to avoid a repetition of the sad experiences of a hastily enforced and sometimes violent withdrawal of UN troops.” Lutundula said, “our utmost priority is restoring peace and security throughout the country. And this is an opportunity for me to affirm that it is time for the UN - and particularly Security Council - to draw lessons from its interventions in Africa and to change the paradigm for its peace missions on our continent.” Talking to reporters outside the Council, Keita said she will meet Lutundula “to discuss the content of what has been proposed by the technical level, which is basically, what are the conditions, when I say conditions, what are the benchmarks that needs to be implemented for a withdrawal and in a progressive and responsible manner for MONUSCO.”


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