The UN Security Council decided unanimously on Friday, March 29, to renew the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUSCO, until as of December 20, 2019. With two strategic priorities.

Kinshasa, March 30, 2019 - The resolution adopted by the Council further entrusts the Secretary-General of the United Nations with submitting to no later than 20 October 2019 the results of its independent strategic review of the UN Mission in the DRC, which will include "a phased, progressive and comprehensive withdrawal plan".

The Council stresses the need to progressively transfer the tasks of MONUSCO to the Congolese Government and the United Nations country team, so that the Mission can, "with favorable developments", leave the country according to "a plan of responsible withdrawal and sustainable ".

The Security Council also congratulates the millions of Congolese who went to the polls for their "behavior" during the presidential, national and provincial elections, leading to the first peaceful transfer of power between heads of state in the country's history .

With this resolution, the Security Council, which had expressed concern over the increase in human rights violations attributed to state agents in 2018, also congratulates the new Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi for his commitment to fight against impunity for human rights abuses, release political prisoners and close illegal detention centers.

Another good point addressed to the Congolese authorities by the Security Council in this resolution is its action to prevent and combat sexual violence. Finally, the Council asks the Congolese authorities to conduct new military operations, in accordance with international law, but also to promote non-military approaches.

Protection of civilians and strengthening of State institutions

These are the two strategic priorities of MONUSCO for the next nine months: to contribute to the protection of civilians and the stabilization and strengthening of State institutions.

With regard to the protection of civilians, the United Nations Mission should, inter alia, provide "effective, dynamic and integrated protection of civilians" threatened by physical violence, strengthen its interaction with the civilian population and "neutralize armed groups through the use of "intervention" whose Council also renewed the mandate on an "exceptional basis".

Finally, with regard to the second3rd strategic priority (strengthening of State institutions), the Security Council asks MONUSCO to help in intercommunity reconciliation, but also to report to it "immediately" the violations of human rights. to support the Congolese Government in the consolidation of a national civil structure for the equitable management of natural resources.

In the end, the Council underlines the need to progressively transfer the tasks of MONUSCO to the Congolese Government and the United Nations Country Team, so that the Mission can, "with favorable developments", leave the country according to a "plan". responsible and sustainable withdrawal ".