New York, USA, February 20, 2024 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) indicated on Monday that it had reinforced its presence over the weekend in Goma, in the province of North Kivu, due to the new escalation of hostilities in the east of the country and reiterated its call to the armed group M23 to cease its offensive.
MONUSCO/Kevin N. Jordan – Peacekeepers patrol the city of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
MONUSCO peacekeepers continue to support the Congolese army by defending the main roads leading to the key towns of Sake and Goma, the capital of North Kivu, said the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric. , during a press briefing in New York.
Due to the deterioration of the security situation around Sake and Goma, the Mission is strengthening its presence there by bringing in South African peacekeepers from the Intervention Brigade of its Force, based in Beni, in the north of the province, he added.
Determination to protect civilians
The military spokesperson for MONUSCO, Lieutenant-Colonel Mensah Kadagni, specified that the deployment of these South African soldiers reinforces the MONUSCO units already deployed. The Force Commander had already deployed Pakistani forces from the South Kivu province as part of cooperation with the Congolese army.
“This effort demonstrates the force’s firm determination to protect the civilians of Goma and Sake,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kadagni.
“In order to fulfill its mandate of protecting civilians and enabling displaced people, particularly women, children and the elderly, the MONUSCO force established a security perimeter near its base in Kitshanga with a view to protect the 25,000 civilians seeking refuge due to the deterioration of the security situation,” he added. “It enabled the delivery of medical aid and the supply of drinking water to the displaced. Finally, a secure axis has been defined in the general Mweso Kashiru area to allow displaced people to get to the IDP camp in complete safety.”
For his part, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General indicated that MONUSCO met with the Coordinator of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in North Kivu this weekend, in order to coordinate joint military action for the defense of Sake and Goma.
Disinformation
MONUSCO also expressed concern about recent disinformation campaigns targeting peacekeepers, which hamper their ability to implement their mandate.
“False information and disinformation can cause serious harm. MONUSCO continues to actively support the FARDC in their efforts to protect civilians in the DRC,” said the head of the Mission, Bintou Keita, in a message on the X platform on Monday.
This security deterioration in North Kivu comes as MONUSCO prepares its gradual disengagement from the DRC.
In December, the UN Security Council decided to extend, for one year, until December 20, 2024, the mandate of MONUSCO, while deciding to initiate its “gradual, responsible and sustainable withdrawal” from the country. . The Council decided in particular that MONUSCO will withdraw its force from the province of South Kivu by the end of April 2024 and will limit its mandate to the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri from May 2024 until the end of the period covered by the current mandate.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for UN Info.
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Source : African Media Agency (AMA)