Kisangani, 16 February 2012 – A ceremony for the official hand over of the rehabilitated buildings of Lukusa training camp took place on Wednesday 15 February in Kisangani, capital of Province Orientale. The ceremony was held in the presence of leading civilian and military figures, including Admiral Damas Kabulo, Secretary General of the Congolese Ministry of Defence and War Veterans. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) was represented by the Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Chander Prakash, and by Helder de Barros, MONUSCO Head of Office in Kisnagani. There was also the significant presence of Michael Tschanz, Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in DRC; the Ambassador of Canada to the DRC, and a representative of the British Embassy.

An official request from the Congolese Ministry of Defence is behind the project. The official request was made on 14 April 2010 to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), now MONUSCO; for support in the rehabilitation of Lukusa training centre. Based in Lubunga municipality, on the Congo River left bank, this camp is currently a brassage centre for former combatants of various rebel groups throughout the DRC, before their integration into the DRC armed forces (FARDC).

In accordance with the instructions, as defined in Security Council resolutions 1856 and 1925, MONUSCO has pledged to assist the Congolese Government in the first phase of the security sector reform in order to help it create a credible and disciplined army.

According to Major-General Moya, FARDC Coordinator of the education and training cells, the first purpose of this training camp is to upgrade three military police battalions. It will now be used as a military training school for the eastern part of DRC. A school of the same kind already exists in the western part of the country, including in Kitona, Bas-Congo province.

The project, carried out by IOM, and is jointly funded by the Canadian and British governments to the amount of nearly two and a half millions of US dollars. The project was executed under the supervision of an executive technical committee regrouping MONUSCO, FARDC and IOM representatives.

The works, which started in early November 2012, will be completed at the end of March 2012. The works included rehabilitating five dormitories, one command facility, one mess; and building six toilet blocks, seven classrooms and one kitchen.

Marylène Seguy/ MONUSCO