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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a delegation from the United Nations (UN) Security Council is visiting from March 9 to 12, 2023 to assess the security situation in this country as well as the implementation of the mandate of its Stabilization Mission in the DRC (Monusco). Visit which comes as a new ceasefire between the M23 rebellion and the armed forces has failed.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
A delegation from the United Nations Security Council arrived on March 9, 2023 in Kinshasa for a working visit until March 12. This is the first time since 2018 that he has carried out a mission of this magnitude in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The main objective of this visit is to assess the security situation in the country and the implementation of the mandate of the UN Mission for Stabilization in the DRC (Monusco).
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During their stay in Kinshasa, the members of the Security Council will meet President Félix Tshisekedi and other political actors.
The delegation is also planning a visit to Goma to assess the security and humanitarian situation in the North Kivu Province, but also the operational context in which Monusco operates.
► Read also : ” Rwanda replaces Sparta,” Ihe visit of the delegation is also on the front page of the French press review
The question of possible sanctions against Rwanda
This visit comes two days after the failure of a new ceasefire between the M23 rebellion and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC). Nicolas de Rivière is Permanent Representative of the French Republic to the United Nations Security Council. He is also the head of the delegation in the DRC: “ We want the fighting to stop, the armed groups to lay down their arms, everyone, the armed groups supported by foreigners to withdraw and the foreign elements to withdraw as well. »
► To read also: In DRC, despite the ceasefire, fighting still rages in North Kivu
Asked about the possibility of sanctions against the M23 and Rwanda, as mentioned during French President Emmanuel Macron’s stay in Kinshasa, Nicolas de Rivière promised more concrete answers at the end of their mission, but did not rule out the option of sanctions. ” All questions are on the agenda including thesehe assured. There are measures that already exist. We’ll see what’s going on. You know that President Macron was there and expressed himself on this subject and I refer you to his remarks “.
Also listen to the spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anne-Claire Legendre, who calls on Rwanda to enforce the ceasefire, at the microphone of Sidy Yansané of the Africa editorial staff.
Respecting commitments applies particularly to the M23. France calls on all those who have been able to provide external support to these armed groups, and Rwanda in particular, to do everything to ensure that this ceasefire is respected today.
Quai d’Orsay spokesperson: “We call on all parties to respect their commitments”
The other important step of the mission will be the meeting in Goma with the regional force of the East African Community (EAC) and with the members of the ad hoc Verification Mechanism decided by the Luanda process.
