The Congolese Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, received in audience the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Jean-Pierre Lacroix, in charge of peace operations. With the critical security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC, the two personalities exchanged questions relating to security, the well-being of civilians, the transition with a view to the withdrawal of Monusco, decentralization, the processes regional peace agreements, the disarmament of armed groups and humanitarian aid.
Underlining the convergence of views of the two parties, Jean-Pierre Lacroix insisted on the need to strengthen the presence of the State, to reduce the break in the functions of civilians and to apply the operations of preparation for the pre-cantonment of the M23. . The UN Under-Secretary-General also spoke of the importance of strengthening the advocacy of humanitarian agencies and donors, despite the context of the humanitarian crisis in which the country finds itself, and promised increased support for better management of staff and of the BENEPi payroll.
Beyond the DRC, the meeting also discussed the challenges of the Luanda roadmap for lasting peace in the Great Lakes region. Thus, this meeting made it possible to reaffirm the commitment of the United Nations to support the dynamics of peace in the DRC and the sub-region.