Kisangani, 31 May 2013 – The UN Peacekeepers' Day was celebrated in Kisangani, Orientale province, on 29 May 2013, with simple military activities and a reading of the UN Secretary-General's message, in which he paid tribute to UN peacekeepers worldwide.

The celebration began with the hoisting of the UN flag followed by a one-minute silence and laying of wreath in honor of the fallen peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The provincial vice-governor, Pascal Mombi Opana, took the opportunity to welcome the newly created Intervention brigade within MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mission of the Force Intervention Brigade is to neutralize all armed groups, which have been destabilizing eastern DRC.

The day wound up with a military parade, in which Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in Kisangani, as well as several platoons of the DRC's Armed Forces (FARDC) and the National Police Force (PNC) took part.

Codjo Houegniglo/MONUSCO