Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
MONUC: Our number one concern is that a fast solution is found to the crisis

MONUC - October 12, 2007

The situation in eastern DRC, particularly in North Kivu, was marked by several confrontations in the last week, between the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and the troops of ex General Laurent Nkunda. We interviewed MONUC force commander General Babacar Gaye who explained the situation on the ground, and the measures taken by MONUC to protect the population. 
The situation in eastern DRC, particularly in North Kivu, was marked by several confrontations in the last week, between the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and the troops of ex General Laurent Nkunda. We interviewed MONUC force commander General Babacar Gaye who explained the situation on the ground, and the measures taken by MONUC to protect the population.

Interview

What’s the current situation in North Kivu?

It’s a situation characterised by a humanitarian drama, something we should never have to talk about with nearly 700,000 displaced people in the province. It’s also a situation characterised by confrontations, which in certain places are simple skirmishes, but more particularly in the zones of Karuba and Mushake they are serious confrontations.

A hundred deaths have been announced, and these confrontations translate into some territorial gains by the FARDC, and a small restoration of state authority. Finally it is a situation characterised by the appeal that Laurent Nkunda made yesterday for a cease fire, an appeal which we hope will be followed by the entry into brassage* for some of his troops.

What is MONUC doing to protect the population and to maintain peace?

MONUC is very conscious in this situation of the consequences for the population. Thus we are coordinating with the humanitarians, and we give our support in terms of security in the displaced persons zones, but we are also very attentive to what the FARDC does on the ground.

We give the FARDC a certain support, in particular in the medical evacuation of their wounded, to transport their reinforcements and their ammunition. But our number one concern really remains that a fast solution is found to a situation which risks becoming a drama of a bigger scale.

Did the FARDC call upon MONUC to engage in a joint operation?

It is clear that the FARDC are waiting for very important support from MONUC. I already said during the last crisis that our support is conditional on joint planning. Joint planning means firstly that all non aggressive means must be explored to solve the crisis before taking an extreme solution.

Joint planning means that we support the FARDC, because it is in our mandate to do so, but also to support the peace process which is ongoing. But I can assure you we remain a peacekeeping force that is very attentive to the suffering of the population, and we are on a permanent search for a peaceful solution to the problems.

If Laurent Nkunda is ready to send some of his men into brassage, is MONUC ready?

We deployed a Mobile Operating Base at Mushake for this scenario. The decision to send 500 men for brassage was made by Nkunda, but unfortunately it has not been carried out on the ground.

We are ready to fully engage in this process. We are monitoring all FARDC troops deployed in relation to the security of the minorities in this area, and we are ready to do all within our means to apply our mandate.

* Brassage is a retraining programme for ex combatants in the DRC to form part of the integrated brigades of the FARDC- the DRC Armed Forces.


Related articles


  1. At least 30 dead after massacres in Ituri (March 2, 2018)
  2. Political tensions 'running high' in DR Congo ahead of 2016 elections (October 7, 2015)
  3. DRC Army Putting Pressure on FDLR (April 1, 2015)
  4. New DR Congo amnesty law welcomed by UN envoys (February 5, 2014)
  5. Colonel Mamadou Ndala Is Killed in Ambush (January 2, 2014)
  6. No 'Peace Deal' With Defeated M23 Rebels, DR Congo Says (November 11, 2013)
  7. Congo Will Not Sign a 'Peace Deal' With Defeated M23 Rebels, Government Says (November 6, 2013)
  8. Congo Army Takes Control of Mbuzi Hill From M23 Rebels (November 4, 2013)
  9. Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
  10. Advancing Congo Troops Take Control of Rumangabo From M23 Rebels (October 28, 2013)
  11. Congo Army Liberates Rutshuru, Kiwanja and Kibumba From M23 Rebels (October 27, 2013)
  12. Congo Army Dislodges M23 Rebels From Strategic Town of Kibumba (October 26, 2013)
  13. Ban Ki-moon Confirms M23 Rebels Shelled Rwanda (August 31, 2013)
  14. DR Congo Will Defend Itself Against an Attack by Rwanda, Government Says (August 31, 2013)
  15. M23 Rebels Fired Shells Into Rwanda, Not Congo Army, UN Says (August 30, 2013)
  16. Mortar Shells From Rwanda Kill Civilians in Eastern Congo (August 23, 2013)
  17. Dozens of M23 Rebels Killed by Congo Army in Renewed Fighting (August 22, 2013)
  18. UN Peacekeepers Start Enforcing Security Zone in Eastern Congo (August 1, 2013)
  19. DR Congo Asks Rwanda to Turn Over M23 Rebel Leaders (July 26, 2013)
  20. UN Security Council debate focuses on peace efforts for Africa's Great Lakes region (July 25, 2013)
  21. M23 Rebels Said to Flee Rumangabo After Congo Army Airstrikes (July 25, 2013)
  22. Congo Army Strikes M23 Rebels Base At Rumangabo (July 24, 2013)
  23. M23 Rebels in Disarray in Eastern Congo, Says Government Spokesman (July 19, 2013)
  24. 120 M23 Rebels Killed in East, Government Says (July 15, 2013)
  25. U.S. Sanctions M23 Rebel Leaders (December 18, 2012)
  26. Thousands of Women March Against M23 Rebels in Kinshasa (November 24, 2012)
  27. DR Congo Officials Vow to Defend Goma Against M23 Rebels (November 19, 2012)
  28. DR Congo, Rwanda Sign Pact to Fight Rebels in Eastern Congo (July 15, 2012)
  29. Kagame Is A Problem for The U.S. and The U.K. (June 23, 2012)
  30. Congo Government Says Bosco Ntaganda Rebels Trained in Rwanda (June 10, 2012)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.