The United States expressed concern, on June 26, by repeated calls from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to withdraw the UN Mission (Monusco) from its territory, when it was not yet ready for such a withdrawal.
“The importance of Monusco for the DRC and the region is clear. This is why the United States is concerned by the increasing calls by the DRC government for the withdrawal of the mission after the elections scheduled for December,” said the United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, during a meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the country.
Recognizing that « Monusco cannot and should not remain in the DRC indefinitely », Washington nevertheless underlines that « there is a broad consensus on the fact that the DRC government will not have fulfilled the objectives it accepted as the minimum conditions for a withdrawal of Monusco by the end of 2023 ».
« A hasty withdrawal of Monusco would likely create a security vacuum that state authorities are unable to fill, with devastating effects on the most vulnerable populations in the region, » insisted Robert Wood.
In the event of the departure of Monusco under current conditions, the United States fearing that armed groups will have the opportunity to amplify their attacks.
For his part, the DRC’s ambassador to the UN, Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, affirmed that Kinshasa « continues the constructive dialogue with Monusco to define the transition plan ». The vision is, in his words, « to focus on the milestones capable of creating the minimum security conditions, a prelude to a good withdrawal ».
The UN Mission has been deployed since 1999 in the DRC. It is one of the most expensive UN missions in the world. The UN, which is in favor of a plan for the gradual withdrawal of its blue helmets, extended in December 2022, the mandate of the mission for one year.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1231 of 06/28/2023
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
