Kinshasa, 10 February 2011 – A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on February 10 will pave the way for rehabilitation works on roads which were halted because of the risks posed by land mines and other unexploded ordinance (UXOs).

The MOU between the Ministry of Infrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction and the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre in the DR Congo (UNMACC-DRC) will enable the centre assist in demining the affected areas so that the road works could continue.

The agreement is the result of a series of technical meetings between Mr. Harouna Ouédraogo, Programme Director for UNMACC-DRC, and Mr. Amidou Sere, Coordinator of the Infrastructure Unit at the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Under this accord, UNMACC will, on the one hand, provide information on the presence of land mines and UXOs, conduct investigations as appropriate, and coordinate demining operations in order to reduce the risk of accidents. The Infrastructure Unit will, on the other hand, keep UNMACC informed of the planning of all road rehabilitation works.

The first road segment expected to benefit from this agreement is the Route Nationale 5 (RN5) in Katanga Province.

Ms Sadio Kanté / UNMACC