– By Siméon Isako
President Félix Tshisekedi recently delivered a speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, addressing topics such as the withdrawal of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), insecurity in the east of the country and the upcoming elections.
In his speech, President Tshisekedi stressed the importance of accelerating the withdrawal of MONUSCO in order to allow the country to take control of its destiny and become a main actor in its own stability. He also expressed his disappointment at the fact that the peacekeeping missions deployed in the DRC for 25 years have not succeeded in confronting rebellions and armed conflicts, nor in protecting civilian populations. According to him, it is therefore illusory to continue to count on MONUSCO to restore peace and stability in the country.
President Tshisekedi also reiterated the DRC’s request to the UN Security Council to sanction all perpetrators of serious crimes committed on Congolese territory. He deplored the fact that some people named in the UN experts’ reports remain unpunished, and called for stronger action from the UN.
Regarding insecurity in the east of the country, President Tshisekedi declared that he would never grant dialogue to the rebel group M23, which refuses to respect the commitments concluded within the framework of the Luanda peace processes and from Nairobi. He denounced the violations of these commitments by the M23, as well as the massacres of civilian populations perpetrated by this group.
Finally, the President of the Republic confirmed the holding of general elections in December and assured that measures would be taken to guarantee the transparency, inclusiveness and credibility of these ballots. Invitations have already been sent to international institutions and non-governmental organizations specializing in electoral observation so that they can mandate their missions.
President Tshisekedi’s speech to the UN underlines his determination to take charge of the destiny of the DRC and to work for stability and peace in the country. It also highlights the challenges facing the country, such as insecurity and impunity, and calls for concerted action by the international community to address them.
Thus, President Tshisekedi’s speech to the UN marks an important step in the DRC’s continued efforts to achieve stability and prosperity. It demonstrates the country’s desire to take control of its future and play an active role on the international scene.