The Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, recently participated in the opening ceremony of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This major meeting brings together each year a large number of heads of state, government, ministers, diplomats, representatives of non-governmental organizations and journalists.
President Tshisekedi’s speech, scheduled for the day after the opening ceremony, is eagerly awaited. It will address crucial issues such as security in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the ongoing electoral process and the development challenges facing the African continent.
In a recent interview, a representative of the Congolese Presidency stressed that President Tshisekedi would hold the international community “accounting for its responsibilities” regarding the security situation in the DRC. He will also reaffirm his country’s commitment to the ongoing electoral process, highlighting the progress made in the area of diplomacy.
However, these international discussions are taking place in a tense context between the Congolese government and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The DRC government is pushing for a rapid withdrawal of MONUSCO, arguing that it has failed to fulfill its mandate of protecting civilians in the east of the country. This situation has led to a loss of trust between the population and the UN peacekeeping forces.
Thus, during his speech, President Tshisekedi will also have to address the issue of the withdrawal of MONUSCO and propose new mechanisms for collaboration with the United Nations, more adapted to the current realities of the DRC.
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, under the theme “Restoring trust and reviving global solidarity”, will also address topics such as climate change, sustainable development, epidemic preparedness and area management of conflicts.
In short, President Tshisekedi’s participation in this session of the United Nations General Assembly is a key moment for the DRC. It offers the opportunity to present the challenges facing the country, to highlight the progress made, but also to find solutions to security and development problems at the national and international levels.