If the departure of the peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tends to become a given, the head of UN peace operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, drew attention on Wednesday at the occasion of a press conference in Kinshasa, on the fact that this withdrawal should be done in a « gradual and responsible » way
While assuring that the UN is studying how to withdraw its force « as quickly as possible », the Frenchman Lacroix also tried to paint an embarrassing picture of the situation in eastern DRC where he stayed at the end of the week behind, with on the program the visit of a camp for displaced people, among others.
While there is « a part of the population is frustrated (…), because the security situation is still worrying », there are also hundreds of thousands of displaced people « protected almost exclusively » by blue helmets of MONUSCO (UN Mission in the DRC) in the East, who do not want to see them leave, according to the UN official.
« In Ituri but also in other provinces where we are present, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are protected today almost exclusively and often exclusively by the presence of MONUSCO », he pointed out. .
If MONUSCO “leaves tomorrow, these civilians would be in very serious danger of being massacred. The populations that we meet in the camps, in the sites for displaced people tell us: stay, above all do not leave,” he continued.
Lacroix thus noted the need for a “rise in power of the Congolese State” to avoid a security vacuum which could be fatal for the populations. He also mentioned, as a possible recommendation to the UN Security Council, support for the African regional forces already deployed or envisaged in eastern DRC.
In addition, the head of UN peace operations stressed that « there is also manipulation, fake news (…), because not everyone has an interest in the return of peace » .
MONUSCO (formerly MONUCc) has been present in the DRC since 1999 and has approximately 16,000 peacekeepers. It is one of the largest and costliest UN missions in the world.
In July 2022, anti-MONUSCO demonstrations erupted in a few towns in the east of the country, killing several people, including five peacekeepers.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1208 of 08/06/2023
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
