The outgoing chief of the UN Mission to the Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC) has told the Security Council that the political situation in the country is increasingly being marked by the electoral process.

Martin Kobler, giving his final briefing before the Council, warned that political tensions were already running high ahead of Presidential and Legislative elections due in November next year.

And while acknowledging that MONUSCO has to gradually leave the Congo, he cautioned against a hasty exit while the security situation, particularly in the East, remained precarious.

Kobler says he’s leaving the DRC satisfied.

But also with a sense that MONUSCO’s mandate has not yet been fulfilled, with a tense election cycle looming.

“I am however concerned by the increasing number of Human Rights Violations related to the electoral process, particularly violations of freedom of peaceful assembly. Reducing political space ahead of the elections will undermine the credibility of the electoral process.”

He says joint assessments with the DRC government show that of the 28 territories affected by armed conflicts, the situation has not improved or even deteriorated in 21 territories.

Although weakened, elements of armed groups notably the FDLR, the ADF and others continue to terrorize communities in the East.
He called for the resumption of joint operations between the UN and the DRC armed forces.

“The only efficient solution to address the security situation are joint MONUSCO-FARDC operations. In my last briefing to you, I urged the DRC to give the green light for joint operations. Unfortunately, the green light has not yet been given. I again call on the president to instruct the FARDC to resume cooperation which produced so many positive results in the past.”

Asked about the repatriation last month of about 50 South African peacekeepers over issues of misconduct.

“It was up to the South Africans to do this investigation, the violations of curfew is also a violation of UN rules. So discipline is important in every unit, not only South Africa and this covers all units of MONUSCO and we are very much, in particular when it comes to sexual exploitation and abuse of our troops, we are very strict in implementing the rules.”

Kobler’s mandate as MONUSCO head ends on October 31