Bunia, 11 September 2010 - Lieutenant-General Chander Prakash, new MONUSCO Force Commander visited Ituri for the first time from 7 to 9 September last to see for himself how the security situation is evolving in that part of Oriental province, especially the district of Walendu Bindi. He reiterated MONUSCO's support to FARDC in terms of civilians' protection.

General Prakash who officially assumed office on 13 August last visited the administrative district of Ituri as part of his first-contact tours with MONUSCO contingents present in the DRC as well as provincial military authorities.

He declared in an interview to Radio Okapi he was happy that the security situation "is improving gradually in Ituri, especially in the district of Walendu Bindi." MONUSCO troops who provide logistic support to FARDC's operations must ensure that civilians' population receive protection so as to "minimise loss in term of human lives."

The Force Commander further said "he was satisfied with the arrest of Chérif Manda, leader of Front populaire pour la justice au Congo (FPJC), an armed group yet active in Ituri." This arrest, he said, should help "improve the security environment in this entity."

About the announced departure of the marine Unit of the Uruguayan contingent, the Force Commander confirmed that it "will leave Kasenyi, and will not be replaced." The Force Commander said MONUSCO is aware of the "vacuum the unit's departure will create" as well as the fear among the populations living in the vicinity of the Lake Albert. He therefore urged that "MONUSCO patrols be organised in the region to mark our presence and reassure the local population."

At last, with regard to the issue of the UN troops' drawdown in Ituri, General Prakash indicated that MONUSCO was evaluating the situation on the ground jointly with the Congolese Government. We cannot tell now how many "will leave and how many will stay."

MONUSCO Force Commander's visit to Ituri comes after several missions to the Kivus and Equateur provinces. General Prakash is expected to travel to Katanga and Kisangani, the administrative town of Oriental province from 21 to 24 September.