Goma, 12 June 2013 - The special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Roger Meece, has announced his departure from MONUSCO. Mr. Meece made the announcement in Goma on Tuesday, 11 June 2013, during a press briefing at the airport.

In his address to the press on security issues, the SRSG said he has been in constant consultation with North Kivu provincial authorities and MONUSCO on the evolution of the crisis. "This last trip in Goma consists of evaluating the security situation as well as introducing the new MONUSCO Force Commander, General Carlos dos Santos Cruz who also came to acquaint himself with the situation on the ground.

From the Airport Roger Meece was later briefed by the North Kivu Brigade on the general security situation within the frame work of the peace process, and later met with North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku, representatives of the civil society and the President of the provincial Assembly.

In a meeting with MONUSCO senior management team he congratulated his staff, both military and civilian, for a job well done in spite of the challenging security conditions, under which they live and work.

The staff, on their part, while welcoming the Force Commander, wished Mr. Meece well in his future endeavors. Roger Meece has spent three years in the DR Congo as Special Representative of the Secretary General. He is expected to leave Kinshasa in July 2013.

Martha Biongo/ MONUSCO

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