A withdrawal of the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2011, as sought by Kinshasa, would be “premature,” France’s UN ambassador, Gerard Araud, said on Tuesday.
While the 20 000-strong force, known as Monuc — the UN’s largest peacekeeping mission — “will not remain indefinitely”, a withdrawal must be done right rather than quickly, said Araud, who is to lead a Security Council delegation on a two-day visit to Kinshasa, starting Saturday.
Kinshasa has asked for a complete pull-out of Monuc by late August 2011, with the first departure of a contingent before next June 30,w hen the huge, mineral-rich Central African country will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence from Belgium.
Araud said all 15 council members “have expressed concern about the date of 2011”, judging it “premature”,
He stressed that the council delegation, which will include seven ambassadors, would go to the DRC “with an open mind” and would hold talks with President Joseph Kabila, government ministers, parliamentarians and members of civil society, as well as with officials of Monuc and other UN agencies in Kinshasa.
“We have to discuss with Congolese authorities the transition that will lead to the withdrawal of Monuc,” the French envoy said.
“This moment has not to be decided in an artificial way … For the moment the situation remains extremely fragile, so we have to do it right rather than to do it quickly.”
Araud said the talks in Kinshasa would specifically focus on “the best way” to have the Congolese army, police and justice exert effective state authority over the enormous country as a prelude to a Monuc withdrawal. — Sapa-AFP