Congo president asks UN peacekeepers to withdraw

Transcript

00:00 The Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Sisekedi has asked his government to

00:05 fast-track the withdrawal of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

00:11 Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, he said Congo wants to ensure the withdrawal

00:16 begins at the end of the year.

00:19 This is why, as in my capacity as guarantor under the constitution, guarantor of the territorial

00:26 integrity, sovereignty and independence of my country, and to ensure the good conduct

00:32 of our nation and the well-being of my compatriots, in this capacity I have instructed the government

00:37 of the Republic to begin discussions with the UN authorities to ensure an accelerated

00:43 withdrawal of MONUSCO from the Democratic Republic of Congo, moving up the deadline

00:49 from December 2024 to December 2023.

00:54 The mission, called MONUSCO, took over from an earlier UN operation in 2010 to help quell

00:59 insecurity in the eastern part of the country.

01:03 Armed groups have been fighting over territory and resources there, but its presence has

01:09 become increasingly unpopular in recent years.

01:12 Critics say it has failed to protect civilians against militia groups, sparking deadly protests.

01:19 More than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in an army crackdown on violent anti-UN

01:25 demonstrations in the eastern city of Goma last month.

01:29 Another protest in July 2022 resulted in more than 15 deaths, including three peacekeepers

01:36 in Goma and the city of Butembo.

01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]