Bunia, 15 June 2013 – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Roger Meece, travelled to Bunia, district of Ituri, province Orientale, on 14 June 2013, to bid farewell to the UN staff and local authorities. "I am leaving the country, and it is for real this time," the Special Representative said, alluding to other times when he left the DRC and had to return for duty.

"I regret that the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo did not fully recovered peace during my tenure of office as chief of MONUSCO," Roger Meece said with a sinking heart while addressing a group of journalists and civil society representatives in Ituri. MONUSCO's chief however said he was optimistic about the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement signed last February in Addis Ababa by Heads of States and Governments in the region.

During his press conference, Roger Meece presented a positive assessment of MONUSCO's achievements in Ituri under his tenure of office as well as the outstanding challenges. He believes that a full implementation of the Addis-Ababa Agreement could bring a lasting solution to the security problem in the eastern DRC. Speaking specifically about Ituri and the presence of armed groups, the Special Representative said those are "negative forces" that should be neutralized by the new Intervention Brigade. The statements were supported by the new Force Commander, Major General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz who was visiting Ituri for the first time to make contact with the Ituri Brigade and acquaint himself with the realities on the ground.

Bilamekaso Tchagbele/MONUSCO