The speech delivered by President Félix Tshisekedi at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly aroused great expectations and interest. Several topics were discussed, ranging from the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the gradual withdrawal of MONUSCO, including the upcoming elections.
President Tshisekedi insisted on the urgency of accelerating the withdrawal of MONUSCO in order to ease tensions between this UN mission and the Congolese population. According to him, it is time for the country to take charge of its own stability and become the main actor in this area.
The Head of State also deplored the ineffectiveness of the peacekeeping missions deployed in the DRC over the last 25 years, which have failed to deal with rebellions and armed conflicts. He stressed that continuing to rely on the presence of MONUSCO to restore peace and stability in the DRC was illusory and counterproductive.
Furthermore, President Tshisekedi welcomed the sanctions taken by the United States against Rwanda for its support for the M23 terrorists. He also asked the UN Security Council to sanction all perpetrators of serious crimes committed on Congolese territory, emphasizing the injustice and inadmissibility of their impunity.
Dialogue with the M23 was clearly excluded by President Tshisekedi, who denounced their refusal to respect the commitments made during the peace processes. He stressed that the rebel group continues to massacre civilian populations, which makes any discussion with them impossible.
Finally, the Head of State confirmed the holding of general elections in December, with measures taken to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, equal opportunities and credibility of the electoral process. Invitations were extended to international institutions and specialized organizations to observe these elections.
This speech by President Tshisekedi demonstrates a desire to take charge of the security and stability of the DRC, by putting an end to dependence on peacekeeping missions. It also emphasizes the need to provide justice to the victims of serious crimes committed on Congolese territory, while affirming the holding of the next elections in transparent and credible conditions.