DR Congo : UN Okays MONUSCO Withdrawal

After several rounds of negotiations and due to persistent demands from authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Security Council has accepted the gradual withdrawal of the UN Mission (MONUSCO) from the country. Apart from the gradual withdrawal, information made public on Monday October 16, 2023 also states that the Council meeting went beyond "taking note" of Kinshasa's requests by encouraging the Congolese executive and the UN to present a plan next month for the gradual and orderly disengagement of the blue helmets from the country. The statement in addition, calls on the authorities in Kinshasa and neighboring Rwanda to intensify dialogue for peace, condemning any support for the armed group known as March 23 Movement (M23) and encouraging the successful conduct of next December's general elections.
For the past months, there has been violent protests by the local population against the presence of UN forces, accused of not being able to restore peace in the troubled Eastern Provinces of the country, where dozens of armed groups proliferate. The latest wave of violence erupted on August 31, when at least 48 people died and 75 others were injured in Rubber, capital of the Province of North Kivu, after the military intervened to disperse a protest against the presence of MONUSCO forces. 
The unauthorized demonstration wa...