The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would be in favor of the reassessment of the withdrawal plan of the UN Mission in the DRC (Monusco), since peacekeepers killed, on Sunday, two Congolese demonstrators and injured many others.
President Félix Tshisekedi asked the government to organize a meeting with the UN mission in order to reassess this withdrawal plan which should be completed in 2024. He thus expressed himself during a crisis meeting held on the night of Monday to Tuesday, in the presence of the presidents of the two chambers of parliament, the Prime Minister and some members of the government.
“The government has been instructed to convene a meeting with Monusco to reassess the plan for its withdrawal agreed under Security Council resolution 2556,” according to a report from the Presidency.
Presumably, the Congolese authorities would like the final departure of Monusco to have finally taken place sooner than expected; what the populations of the East of the country, who have been languishing under the violence of armed groups for many years, are asking for.
Residents of some towns in eastern DRC demonstrated at the beginning of last week, demanding the departure of Monusco, deemed unable to protect the population against armed groups since its deployment on Congolese territory.
The demonstrations took on a new dimension on Monday, August 1, the day after gunfire from UN forces left two dead. Peacekeepers, who were returning from leave, reportedly fired to force their way through a border post with Uganda, in Kasindi, in the province of North Kivu (east of the country).
Tshisekedi had an interview on Monday with UN SG Antonio Guterres, who the day before said he was outraged by the incident. The Congolese leader told him of his disapproval of the behavior of the peacekeepers.
According to the government, the demonstrations have left 36 dead, including three members of Monusco, and around 170 injured since last week until Tuesday.
By OMA Newsletter N° 805 of 03/08/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
