Bukavu, 14 August 2010 - The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative (SRSG) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Roger Meece, arrived in the town of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu province, on August 12, for a two-day visit. (Photo caption: SRSG Meece visits the Saio camp near Bukavu, accompanied by General Masunzu, Commander of the FARDC 10th Military Region, Noel Craven, head of IOM in Bukavu, and South Kivu Governor Marcellin Cisambo. Photo: MONUSCO/Hugo de Vries)

This was his fourth stop on a visit to eastern DRC which had taken him successively to Goma in North Kivu province and Bunia and Dungu in Oriental province. Goma was his initial contact as head of MONUSCO with the local civilian and military authorities on the ground.

In South Kivu, SRSG Meece met with MONUSCO's officials and its partners over the overall situation in this province. He held lengthy and fruitful discussions with provincial authorities represented by the South Kivu Governor Marcellin Cishambo, the Provincial Assembly, the Commander of DRC armed Forces (FARDC) 10th Military Region, General Pacifique Masunzu, and the Commander of the Amani Leo operations in South Kivu, Colonel Delphin Kahimbi. These meeting centered on the challenges facing the province.

During these discussions, SRSG Meece explained how his visit, which he was making shortly after taking office as head of MONUSCO, is crucial. "It is, he said, a good opportunity to review the issues that we share; the challenges we face and see how we can work together as closely as possible".

With continuing threats to different communities from armed groups, Mr. Meece told a press conference he held following his meeting with the South Kivu Governor, that the protection of civilians remains a priority for the MONUSCO. "We are still willing to do our utmost working in an active partnership to support the FARDC operations. UN troops that are based in the province and the South Kivu Brigade in particular, are still working toward that objective". The Special Representative reaffirmed his willingness to do his utmost to continue this effort. "We will continue this active partnership with civilian and military authorities to confront the threat of armed groups. The aim is to eliminate this threat and provide security for the civilian population," he said.

The Special Representative concluded his South Kivu visit by visiting a number of ongoing projects that include the construction, by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), of lodgings for families of FARDC soldiers at the Saio camp and at Nyamunyuni, and of a seven-kilometer stretch of road between the village of Miti and the entrance to the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, on the Miti-Hombo axis road currently under rehabilitation by ONOPS within the framework of the STAREC Plan which is supported by MONUSCO's Stabilization Programme.