Kinshasa, June 5th, 2021 (CPA).- The UN Mission for Stabilization in the DRC (MONUSCO) remains focused on the protection of civilians alongside the National Security Forces, which continues to be essential, so that attention is legitimately focused on the volcanic eruption and its consequences, said on Wednesday the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, during the weekly conference of this Mission. “Indeed, the armed groups in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu have not given any respite. The ADF and other armed groups are increasing indiscriminate attacks, targeting the most vulnerable populations. In the Hauts-plateaux area, local and foreign groups continue to clash in a cycle of community violence that does not weaken, ”she continued, before reassuring that she is neither fatalistic nor resigned. . “Your army and police need the support of the United Nations to stand by them, as responsible and determined partners. The events in Goma forced Monusco to cancel the celebrations of the International Day of Peacekeepers, ”said Ms. Bintou Keita, who took the opportunity to pay tribute to the peacekeepers. She then announced that the new Commander of the Monusco Force, Marcos De Sa Alfonso Da Costa, has just taken up his duties for « maximum » support to the FARDC, and that, compared to the Rapid Intervention Brigade, a mobile unit from Tanzania, Kenya are expected to arrive in July, Nepal and South Africa. The establishment of 4 mobile units shows the rise of the Rapid Intervention Brigade. But for the head of Monusco, to fight against the attacks, a military approach is needed, but also a community and civilian approach.Referring to the political situation, the Head of Monusco also recalled the attachment of the United Nations and the African Union to inclusive political processes leading to the 2023 elections, to consolidate the political and institutional stability of the country. .In this spirit, Ms. Bintou expressed the hope that the law on the reform of the INEC will strengthen its depoliticization, its independence, the transparency of the electoral process and the accountability and criminal sanction for anyone who does not comply with the law in its management, according to the international standard. ACP/
