DR Congo: violence intensifies as UN mission pledges continued support

(UN News) The security and political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains “extremely tense”, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday. Despite the volatility, the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, remains committed to delivering on its mandate, as regional efforts to restore peace continue. Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations with the mission, said that ‘blue helmets’ would continue the full spectrum of their activities in Ituri, supporting the ceasefire as well as offering protection to civilians in North Kivu – while focusing exclusively on ceasefire-related functions in South Kivu. MONUSCO has been in the DRC since July 2010, taking over from an earlier UN peacekeeping operation in a conflict stemming from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in neighbouring Rwanda. MONUSCO’s mandate includes protecting civilians and helping the DRC to stabilise and consolidate peace. – DR Congo: violence intensifies as UN mission pledges continued support | UN News