The President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi on Thursday called for a speedier withdrawal of the UN force in his country to begin this year.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, he revealed that he had instructed his government to begin talks with the UN to bring forward ‘the start of this progressive withdrawal from December 2024 to December 2023’.
He said the mission – known by the acronym Monusco – had failed to bring peace in the country despite being there for about 25 years, adding that it was “illusory and counterproductive to continue to cling” to the force to maintain peace.
“It is time for our country to take full control of its destiny and become the main actor in its own stability,” he told his audience in New York.
Monusco – with more than 16,000 personnel – is the second largest UN mission globally and has become increasingly unpopular in recent years.
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It has been criticised for failing in its mission to bring about stability in eastern DR Congo, recently sparking protests in the region.
Africa Today News, New York reports that last year, a Monusco special representative of the UN secretary general told the BBC that the peacekeeping mission would be evaluated amid the deadly protests, in which dozens were killed.
In another report, the Government of Congo has debunked viral reports about a Sunday coup attempt against President Denis Nguesso who has been in power for 38 years, dismissing them as false and unfounded.
Mr. Thierry Moungalla who is Congo’s Minister of Information debunked the claims on Monday via a tweet on his X handle which was sighted by Africa Today News, New York.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the 78 year old Nguesso has spent 38 years at the helm of the country in central Africa. He was president from 1979 to 1992, then returned in 1997 after a civil war, and has remained in power ever since.