On an official tour to the different territories where MONUSCO is present, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in DRC arrived in Beni on Tuesday 15 September. “It is a farewell visit,” said Martin Kobler, who took the opportunity to comment on his two years’ tenure as head of the largest United Nations Mission in the world and on the overall political situation in DRC.

Regarding the current military operations in that area, Martin Kobler said he is leaving with mixed feelings, because there were successes and setbacks. “I am leaving with a twinge of sorrow about Beni, which I visited time and again when it was faced with all sorts of ordeals, namely massacres. Our mission is not over. We must continue working with the FARDC and Police to eradicate the armed groups. I am in permanent and constructive contact with the Government in Kinshasa in a bid to revive the joint operations FARDC/MONUSCO against the ADF. This is key insofar as MONUSCO has technical and logistic means and FARDC has intelligence. Unity makes stronger; with unity we can help to improve the situation and definitely eradicate armed groups,” he repeated.

To the question about the ongoing electoral process in DRC, the Special Representative said: “We must hold on to the electoral principles. We are for transparent and peaceful elections. It is essential and I hope that the constitutional process will be peaceful. Why should not we have peaceful elections? Our position here is very clear. You have a Constitution and the Constitution must be respected. The international community will provide its support to the presidential and legislative elections. We are of the opinion that the electoral calendar must be respected according to the Constitution. Those elections must take place in November 2016 and shall give space to all the political forces, the Opposition and the Civil Society in order to have peaceful elections”.

Martin Kobler concluded, before leaving the DRC, much remain to be done. His mandate shall end on 31 October and he hopes to continue working within the United Nations System. “I love working as humanitarian actor,” he said.