Goma - MONUSCO through UNPOL and its partner IOM (International Organization for Migration (IOM) started implementing two major capacity-building projects for the Congolese National Police in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The USA and Netherlands-backed projects are worth 2.5 million US dollars.

The UNPOL and IOM trainers’ training cycle on the mining sites safety and oversight launched on 3^rd April is destined for 153 trainees. For now, 53 police officers including 3 women comprising units’ commanders, agents and judiciary police officers received the training that lasted up to 24 April at Mugunga Police Academy. Trainees came from Maniema, North-Kivu and South-Kivu provinces.

“The United Nations family is prepared to back DRC’s mining activities like production & export as well as forging peace and stability areas, promoting private sector development and State revenues and insisting on social and political development” declared the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in DRC, Martin Kobler, in his speech to the second mining conference held in Goma on 24 and 25 March 2014.

By Clara Padovan/MONUSCO