THE President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has called on the United Nations peacekeeping mission stationed in his country to leave.
Addressing the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S., on 20th September 2023, President Tshisekedi Tshilombo said: “It is time for our country to take full control of its destiny and become the main actor in its own stability”.
The mission, called MONUSCO, took over from an earlier U.N. operation in 2010 to help quell insecurity in the eastern part of the Central African country, where armed groups fight over territory and resources.
But its presence has become increasingly unpopular in recent years for what critics say is a failure to protect civilians against militia groups, sparking deadly protests.
“It is to be deplored that peacekeeping missions deployed for 25 years… have failed to cope with the rebellions and armed conflicts,” Tshisekedi told the assembly.
“This is why… I instructed the Government of the Republic to begin discussions with the U.N. authorities for an accelerated withdrawal of MONUSCO… by bringing forward the start of this progressive withdrawal from December 2024 to December 2023,” he said.
More than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in an army crackdown on violent anti-U.N. demonstrations in the eastern city of Goma last month. Another protest in July 2022 resulted in more than 15 deaths, including three peacekeepers in Goma and the city of Butembo.
Eighteen-Eleven Media