Visiting Goma, North Kivu, this Sunday, September 1, 2019, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had an exchange with National Assembly members of the Nord Kivu Caucus on security issues and the eradication of the Ebola virus disease in the province.

For more than thirty minutes, the 12 members of the North Kivu Caucus spoke with the UN chief on the phenomenon linked to the ADF armed group and its attendant train of miseries.

They particularly insisted on the contribution of MONUSCO, through its Intervention Brigade (FIB), in order to put an end to it.

The National Assembly member for Beni and chair of the caucus, Paul Vahumawa, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, mainly pleaded for the UN to authorize the FIB to act autonomously for "combat actions on the ground".

"We as National Assembly members are asking you to help us, above all we are asking that Chapter 7 be applied so that the FIB can strike with or without the FARDC," he said.

According to Paul Vahumawa, National Assembly members would like to see insecurity treated in the same way as Ebola.

Guterres : Together we can do great things

Fully understanding the frustration of the people of Beni and of their members following continued insecurity in that region, the Secretary-General said that new strategies will be put in place to enhance the effectiveness of the Force.

António Guterres also spoke of the need to strengthen cooperation between MONUSCO Force and the Armed Forces of the DRC.

"Together we can do great things," he insisted.

After this meeting, the UN chief met with representatives of the civilian and military components of MONUSCO, with whom he discussed the challenges they encounter in their work and the solutions for addressing them.