Guterres: "MONUSCO has a very important role to play in the DRC"

Guterres: "MONUSCO has a very important role to play in the DRC". Photo UN/Martine Perret

2 Sep 2019

Guterres: "MONUSCO has a very important role to play in the DRC"

Papy Martial Mukeba / Lydie Betyna / Yulu Kabamba

"MONUSCO has a very important role to play in the DRC," UN Secretary-General said on 1 September 2019, the second day of his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, speaking on the future of the peacekeeping mission.

From the rural community of Mangina, in Beni territory, North Kivu province, where he visited the Ebola Treatment Center on Sunday, António Guterres said he was looking to the Security Council for the renewal of MONUSCO mandate and the strategic review, to enable this UN Mission to serve the Congolese people further.

"Of course, It's a Security Council’s decision, but it's my opinion that MONUSCO has a very important role to play in the DRC," he said.

For the UN chief, MONUSCO will "naturally" depart one day at the appropriate time, as was the case for UN missions in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire or elsewhere, once these countries have "solved their problems".

"At the moment, I think we need to make a strategic review, which is underway, to improve what MONUSCO is doing, to make it more useful to the Congolese people in areas such as security as well as in the political field" , he further said.

Guterres repeated he was looking to the Security Council for the renewal of MONUSCO's mandate and the necessary adjustments for its effectiveness.

 

Despite criticisms against MONUSCO, United Nations Secretary-General sees the existence of this UN mission in the DRC as beneficial.

 

"It appears obvious, when talking with the Congolese people, male and female who are critical of MONUSCO's action that everyone would like MONUSCO to do more, especially in the security field. Even those who are critical, all recognize that without the presence of MONUSCO in this region, we would be in a much more difficult situation, "he said.

 

After the Mangina leg, UN Secretary General returned to Goma from where he flew to Kinshasa.

 

In the Congolese capital, he plans to meet the Congolese Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, and several other authorities as well as members of the Civil Society Organizations.