The new Force Commander of MONUSCO in the DRC, Lieutenant General Miranda Filho, paid a visit to Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, an area heavily impacted by the violence and series of massacres perpetrated by armed groups. The General had discussions with the provincial authorities, including the Military Governor, Lieutenant General Luboya N’Kashama, as well as the members of the provincial security committee. The objective of this visit was to strengthen cooperation between the FARDC and MONUSCO in joint operations aimed at protecting the civilian population.
General Filho said he wanted to ensure the safety of the population, without giving details of the planned operations. Lieutenant General N’Kashama welcomed the visit of the new head of MONUSCO and expressed his wish for joint military operations to track down local and foreign armed groups operating in the province. He also announced the forthcoming holding of an intra-community dialogue in the Aru region. The two soldiers also discussed the transition from MONUSCO to the FARDC.
The new Force Commander of MONUSCO in the DRC is of Brazilian nationality and replaces his predecessor, Lieutenant General Da Costa. His visit schedule includes meeting with Ugandan troops deployed in South Irumu.
This visit by General Filho is a new expression of the joint will of the FARDC and MONUSCO to restore peace and security in the conflict zones in the DRC. It comes after a period of cessation of military operations in favor of non-military approaches such as inter-community dialogues to end attacks against civilian populations. His decision to resume joint military operations and his meeting with local authorities are therefore encouraging signs for the future of the Ituri region.
In short, General Filho’s visit to Ituri marks a step forward in the fight against armed groups and the restoration of peace in the DRC, thanks to strengthened cooperation between the FARDC and MONUSCO.