Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
UN, DR Congo discussing end to peacekeeping mission

BBC News - March 4, 2010
MONUC

The UN has begun talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo on withdrawing its peacekeeping mission - the biggest UN operation in the world.

UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said his officials would take a month to assess how the pullout of 20,500 personnel could be carried out.

The current mandate of the mission, known as Monuc, expires in May.

UN troops have a mixed record in DR Congo, with accusations of sex abuse, gold smuggling and running from rebels.

The peacekeepers were first sent to the country in 1999 in a bid to calm a raging conflict dubbed "Africa's first world war".

The conflict drew in six other countries and left an estimated four million people dead.

The fighting officially ended in 2003, but parts of the east of the country remain extremely volatile.

The BBC's Thomas Fessy in Kinshasa says no details have been given on a timeline for withdrawal, but the Congolese authorities have asked for it to be carried out in one year.

Our correspondent says it is quite clear that President Joseph Kabila does not want to have a UN force in his country when a presidential election is held in late 2011.

Debate due

Mr Le Roy announced the pullout talks after a meeting with Mr Kabila, saying a UN team had been given one month to assess how the mission could start withdrawing.

The UN Security Council is due to debate Monuc's mandate next month.

Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende told the BBC that there should be no UN troops in DR Congo other than in the troubled eastern regions of North and South Kivu by the end of this year.

"Withdrawal must be completed by mid-2011," he said.

Despite ongoing military operations in different parts of the country, the Congolese authorities want the timeline of the withdrawal to be clearly announced before 30 June, when the country celebrates 50 years of independence.

Last year, Monuc was accused of working with Congolese troops who had committed human rights abuses.

The UN peacekeepers are supporting Congolese troops in operations against Rwandan rebels based in eastern DR Congo.

In previous years, many Congolese have accused the UN of not protecting eastern towns from advancing rebel forces - but the UN has said that was not part of its mandate.


Related articles


  1. Ebola outbreak declared an international Public Health Emergency (July 17, 2019)
  2. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  3. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  4. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  5. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  6. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  7. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  8. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  9. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  10. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  11. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  12. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  13. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  14. UN Report Blames Ugandan Islamists for 237 Killings in DR Congo (May 14, 2015)
  15. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  16. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  17. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  18. Senior UN officials urge Brazzaville to halt expulsion of DR Congo nationals (May 26, 2014)
  19. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  20. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  21. Security Council extends UN mission, intervention force in DR Congo for one year (March 28, 2014)
  22. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  23. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
  24. Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
  25. Ban Ki-moon Confirms M23 Rebels Shelled Rwanda (August 31, 2013)
  26. M23 Rebels Fired Shells Into Rwanda, Not Congo Army, UN Says (August 30, 2013)
  27. DR Congo Eases Process for Starting a New Business (June 3, 2013)
  28. UN Security Council approves intervention force to target armed groups in DR Congo (March 28, 2013)
  29. Regional Leaders Sign DR Congo Peace Deal (February 24, 2013)
  30. The M23 Rebels Want to Overthrow Kabila? Nonsense (November 28, 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.