Kinshasa, 24 February 2012 - How is MONUSCO Western Brigade organized, its mission, objectives and tasks under its jurisdiction in the DRC? Those are the points discussed by the 11th Military Region Commander of the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo – FARDC – (the Democratic Republic of Congo's national armed forces) , Col Nyembo Abdallah, during a visit he paid to MONUSCO Western Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen Obed Boamah Akwa on 24 February 2012. The meeting took place at the Western Brigade Headquarters in Kinshasa. This is the first visit since a cooperation agreement two weeks ago.

Some of the specific tasks performed by the Western Brigade include the protection of UN personnel and assets, civilians and humanitarian workers. Other duties include the planning and conduct of joint operations and activities with the FARDC. The Western Brigade also conducts regular short and long range patrols with the FARDC. In recent months, the Western Brigade Command has provided escorts for MONUSCO's civil administration, and supported three military regions for operations in Equateur Province, and carried out Quick Impact Projects in local communities.

The Western Brigade has an area of responsibility covering 1,130,567 sq km in six provinces, including Kinshasa, Bas Congo, Kasai Occidental, Kasai Oriental, Equateur and Bandundu.

Lieutenant Christine Atepor/ MONUSCO