Securing elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a major concern for the Congolese national police (PNC) and the MONUSCO police (UNPOL). As part of a joint plan, the two police forces have decided to work together to ensure security during the upcoming elections.
During an exchange organized in Bunia, UNPOL committed to training 2,042 new units recruited within the PNC in order to strengthen the Congolese police force during this transition period of the UN mission. This training will also allow new recruits to familiarize themselves with election security procedures.
The UNPOL sector head in Bunia, Sumano Kamba, underlined the importance of this collaboration within the framework of the MONUSCO transition: “We are working within the framework of the transition and we are in the process of seeing how the PNC can have decent infrastructure for student police officers.”
For its part, the provincial police office in Ituri stressed the need for this meeting to prepare the police to assume their role during the elections next December. Bukasa Makelela, head of public security of the PNC in Ituri, explained that the population of Ituri needed security support and that the presence of the police required adequate infrastructure.
To ensure the safety of civilians, UNPOL and the PNC will therefore work closely together, in accordance with the mandate of MONUSCO. This cooperation aims to guarantee peaceful and secure elections, thus allowing the Congolese population to exercise their right to vote in a climate of confidence and serenity.
Separately, General Moody Berethe, who heads the MONUSCO police in the DRC, visited the police operations coordination center under construction, funded by the mission. This infrastructure will help strengthen the operational capacities of the Congolese police and ensure better coordination between the different security forces.
In conclusion, securing elections in the DRC is a priority for the PNC and UNPOL. Through their common plan and close cooperation, they are working together to guarantee the security of Congolese citizens during this crucial electoral period. This initiative is an important step towards democratic and peaceful elections in the DRC.