Eight soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) completed a six-week specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training course on 26 June 2026 in Beni, North Kivu.
Organized by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) of MONUSCO, the training formed part of the second phase of a programme launched in April 2026 to address the threat posed by explosive remnants of war, which continue to cause numerous casualties across the region.
Strengthening national capacity
The training aimed to equip Congolese military personnel with advanced technical skills to enhance the protection of communities exposed to the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
One of the participants, Captain Sylvestre Paluku Kalubenge, welcomed the initiative while calling for increased national investment to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the course.
"This training has been extremely valuable. MONUSCO has fulfilled its role by providing us with the necessary knowledge, and it is now our responsibility to build on it. However, that alone is not enough. It is now up to the Government to provide us with the equipment we need so that we can become an indispensable asset to the population, as the need is real. If the Government invested more resources in this area, I could better serve the community and help save many lives," he said.
UNMAS Chief of Operations Bruno Bouchardy underscored the importance of this support as part of MONUSCO's mandate to protect civilians.
"The expertise you have acquired is now in your hands, and with it comes responsibility. This demonstrates that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is taking ownership of the tools required to protect its people and critical infrastructure independently. We will continue to stand by your side in support of this effort, because the security of North Kivu and of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a whole is your mission—and ours as well," he stated.
A call to extend the training to the national police
Provincial authorities also praised the United Nations' support. The Vice-Governor of North Kivu called for similar training opportunities to be extended to other national security institutions.
"I would like to take this opportunity to urge MONUSCO and UNMAS to extend this training to units of the Congolese National Police and to the Congolese Mine Action Centre, so that they can effectively address the day-to-day security needs of civilians in areas of North Kivu formerly under the control of armed groups," said Divisional Commissioner Louis Secong Karawa.
A progressive training programme
At the end of this second phase, the eight soldiers were awarded their EOD Level 2 certification.
On 15 May, they had successfully completed the first phase of the programme, earning EOD Level 1 certification after four weeks of combined theoretical and practical instruction. The first phase covered: Trauma management in mine action operations; Recognition and classification of ammunition; Technical organization of EOD operations; Human rights principles; Marking techniques for unexploded ordnance.
The second phase further strengthened participants' technical expertise through training on: Identification and functioning of a wide range of explosive ordnance; Probing techniques and the use of manual probes; Handling of demolition accessories and explosives; Marking and destruction techniques for explosive ordnance; In-situ and demolition pit destruction methods; Burning of small-calibre ammunition; Use of personal protective equipment; Planning and management of explosive ordnance clearance and demining operations.
This initiative reflects MONUSCO's continued commitment, through UNMAS, to supporting the Congolese defence and security forces in reducing the threat posed by explosive ordnance and strengthening the long-term protection of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jean-Tobie Okala
