Security Council renews mandate of UN mission in DRC

The UN Security Council on Friday extended the mandate of UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) until March 31, 2018.

In a resolution adopted here, the Security Council decided that the mission’s troop ceiling will be comprised of 16,215 military personnel, 660 military observers and staff officers, 391 police personnel, and 1,050 personnel of formed police units.

The 15-nation council also authorized the mission to protect civilians, support the the electoral process in DRC and to collect information on criminal networks of local armed groups and thus make tailored responses.

The DRC has continued to suffer from recurring cycles of conflict and persistent violence by the armed groups.

Earlier this week, bodies of two members of a UN group of experts who went missing since March 12 were discovered by MONUSCO peacekeepers outside the city of Kananga.

The two UN experts were appointed by the Security Council to investigate a new rebellion.

In this regard, the Security Council urged all parties to protect and respect the UN, diplomatic and foreign premises and other civilians in DRC.

It also called for joint operations by the DRC armed forces and MONUSCO, including joint planning and tactical cooperation, to neutralize the armed groups.