DRC: Congo Calls for Gradual Withdrawal of UN Peacekeeping Force, Citing Security Improvements

Date: 
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Source: 
Canadian Press
Countries: 
Africa
Central Africa
Congo (Kinshasa)
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Peacekeeping
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Congo called Wednesday for the U.N. peacekeeping force in the central African nation to be gradually withdrawn "without delay," saying the security situation has been stabilized in nearly all parts of the country.

Raymond Tshibanda, Congo's minister for international and regional co-operation, told the U.N. Security Council that the withdrawal of the military force should take into account the recommendations of a U.N.-Congolese evaluation team.

Last year, Congo's President Joseph Kabila called for the U.N. force — the largest in the world — to leave before September 2011 so the country could "fly with its own wings." But the council only authorized a withdrawal of 2,000 troops, leaving a 19,000-strong force on the ground, mainly in volatile eastern Congo, until June 30 when its mandate expires.

Tshibanda said "notable progress has been made in reducing threats against the security of the population and improving the conditions for the government to take over security."

Congo has normalized relations with neighbouring states and "the security situation is today stabilized in nearly all the country," he said, so "we can legitimately consider that we are out of the phase of re-establishing and maintaining peace."

The Security Council said in a statement at Wednesday's council meeting that "the overall peace and security situation ... has improved in recent years" in Congo.

But the council underlined "that significant security challenges remain," particularly in the eastern Kivus and northeastern Orientale province.

The council expressed concern about the difficulties of integrating the Tutsi-led CNDP rebel movement that swept across large swaths of eastern Congo at the end of 2008 into the Congolese Armed Forces, "and the limited progress made in the reform of the security forces, both army and police." It called on Congolese authorities to swiftly implement these reforms.

The Security Council also reiterated "its deep concern about the persistent high levels of violence, especially sexual violence, and human rights abuses against civilians, mostly affecting women and children."
The nation of 70 million people, equal in size to Western Europe, has been plagued by decades of war and its vast forests are rife with militias that have systematically used rape to destroy communities.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Congolese authorities Wednesday "to do more to put an end to such crimes," saying sexual violence not only causes "untold harm" to victims but "deepens conflicts and worsens already dire conditions."

A new study to be published in the American Journal of Public Health in June says 1,152 women are raped every day in Congo, a rate equal to 48 per hour.

The U.N. chief also called for presidential and legislative elections in Congo, scheduled for Nov. 28, to be transparent, credible and peaceful.

"We must do our utmost to ensure that violence does not break out before, during, or after the elections. We have invested much — and there is much to lose," he told the council.