Uvira, 12 March 2012 – The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO)'s Sud-Kivu Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Nadir Khan, the Commander of Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)'s Amani Leo campaign in Sud-Kivu, Colonel Delphin Kahimbi, the Kalundu Port Administrator, and the Head ad interim of MONUSCO's Office in Uvira have inspected a boat chartered by MONUSCO to support its civilian protection mandate and related activities.

Inaugurated at the Port of Kalundu on 27 February 2012, in the presence of the administrative authorities of the port and the locality, the boat will be used to facilitate military and humanitarian operations on Lake Tanganyika.

These operations will be coordinated between MONUSCO's forces and administration, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)'s naval force and the Congolese National Police (PNC), and aiming to protect civilians and deter any attacks by armed groups, in line with MONUSCO's mandate.

This security operation, which is planned for an initial six-month period, will enable the MONUSCO Force to conduct patrols on Lake Tanganyika along the Uvira-Talama and Uvira Baraka axes, in the initial stage of the operation. MONUSCO might also lend support to the FARDC and the PNC by monitoring and reporting cases of arms trafficking and other illicit activities for appropriate action to be taken. The vessel's patrol area will later include the Uvira-Kalemie-Moba axis.

MONUSCO uses its Riverine Force to maintain a steady UN presence within the DRC waterways, and to monitor, collect and report information on military, humanitarian and other activities relating to its mandate.

Laurent Sam Oussou, PIO, MONUSCO