– The new UNSC Resolution on the DRC voted on 26 March 2015 extending MONUSCO’s mandate was explained to ISTM Uvira students in the South Kivu province. 250 students took part in the session to learn about the origins and the activities of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Initially, the country was torn apart by protracted wars; with the help of MONUC later on renamed MONUSCO in June 2010, the country recovered its territorial integrity, organized all inclusive talks and its first free, democratic and transparent elections in 2006; in more than 40 years in its history; the DRC had new institutions; DRC is now recovering slowly but surely with the help of MONUSCO and the United Nations. With the recovered hard won peace, DRC managed to equip itself with democratically elected institutions; Proud of the victories won on over some armed groups such as M23 and other achievements with the help of MONUSCO, the Congolese authorities now envisage progressive departure of the UN troops from DRC.

Yet, a lot remains to be done to complete its mission: consolidated peace, more effective fight against insecurity fuelled by armed groups and other militias; to have professional army, police and intelligence services, to improve the Civil and Military Justice sectors etc. Questions were asked about when MONUSCO was going to leave the DRC, the Mission’s support to the authorities to cope with insecurity in some parts of country: Beni, Plaine de la Ruzizi…), MONUSCO’s contribution to the organization of the elections…

At the end of the meeting, attended by the administrative authorities and ISTM academics, some items to ensure MONUSCO’s visibility were distributed to the students: loincloths, umbrellas, helmets, T-shirts, pamphlets and Magazines. The session was very successful; more than 250 students received clear explanations about MONUSO’s mandate. The students, at the end of the session, confessed that they did not know much about MONUSCO and its mandates; that the session has changed their perception of MONUSCO.

Jean-Tobie Okala

Photos: Monusco/Fiston NGOMA