In the DRC, will MONUSCO be able to meet its withdrawal schedule? On June 25, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka and Bintou Keita, head of the UN Mission, presided over a closing ceremony for UN operations in South Kivu, marking the end of more than 20 years of presence in this province. However, the recent M23 offensives in North Kivu are complicating this disengagement. It is not excluded that this schedule will not be respected.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
In Kinshasa, the government is very cautious about the question of the withdrawal of the MONUSCOespecially in North Kivu. Monday July 8, Thérèse Kayi kwamba Wagner, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congostressed the importance of not rushing this process, especially in such a volatile security context. She did not insist on a deadline, but on a responsible, sustainable and orderly withdrawal of MONUSCO.
Same point of view in the office of the head of state, given that the situation on the ground remains tense with the advances of the M23. The President’s relatives Felix Tshisekedi affirm that decisions regarding the total withdrawal of MONUSCO will be taken taking into account developments on the ground. All the more so since the regional force of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) has not yet completed its deployment process in the region.
Also, this force is called upon to benefit from the logistical support that the UN mission must provide, according to the request made to the Security Council. This SADC force should reach its full operational capacity by mid-July, according to MONUSCO.
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