Martin Kobler in Mutarule,DRC’s South-Kivu province to comfort local population inter-ethnic clashes

26 juin 2014

Martin Kobler in Mutarule,DRC’s South-Kivu province to comfort local population inter-ethnic clashes

Mutarule, 20 June 2014 - Martin Kobler, accompanied by UN French delegation travelled to Mutarule, in the Ruzizi plain, South-Kivu province on 20 June 2014 to encourage local communities to resolve inter-ethnic conflicts through dialogue after violent inter-ethnic clashes that left 33 civilian victims during the night of 6 - 7 June in that territory.

The head of MONUSCO also advocated for restoration of confidence among local population as well as with UN Mission following the sad events. Mr. Kobler expressed his sympathies to the population in Mutarule. Along with members of the local provincial assembly and local government, he visited Mutarule 1 village, a church whose members were killed on the eve of Easter. Villagers who found refuge in Sange, Nyakabere I and II, Luberizi and Uvira following the clashes came to meet Mr. Kobler.

Addressing the population, Mr. Kobler highlighted the need for “restoring confidence between MONUSCO and the population,” encouraging all the different communities to resolve their differences through dialogue “even at such a challenging time when 33 people from the Bafuliru community were killed”.

Reacting to the population’s feeling that they were not protected by MONUSCO when the killing took place, Kobler said he understands their plight but underscored that MONUSCO could not be everywhere in such a huge country at the same time; “however, when are informed on time, we react under our mandate in spite of the challenges in ensuring civilian protection,” the Special Representative further said.

Mr. Kobler asked the MONUSCO Pakistani contingent deployed in that area to redouble efforts both at night and day time. When leaving the area, the head of MONUSCO and his delegation promised to another visit in 6 months to assess the response to the population’s complaints.

Laurent Sam Oussou