During this period of transition for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), a gesture of generosity and commitment to the development of the Democratic Republic of Congo was made by the Chinese contingent. Indeed, this Monday, April 29, the Chinese contingent handed over to the Congolese government a precious batch of equipment worth more than seven million US dollars. This symbolic gesture comes as the Chinese peacekeepers completed their mission in the country, following the disengagement plan planned by MONUSCO.
This exceptional donation is made up of nearly fifty thousand engineering tools and machines, including bulldozers, forklifts and dump trucks, thus meeting the construction and development needs of the DRC. In addition, the hospital supervised by the Chinese contingent in Bukavu also contributed by offering more than forty thousand medical equipment, including an ambulance, vehicles and various essential medical materials and instruments.
This exemplary initiative was welcomed by the head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, who underlined the crucial importance of infrastructure in promoting peace and security. She expressed her gratitude to the Chinese authorities for their generosity and support for peacebuilding and development efforts in the DRC. For its part, the Congolese government is committed to making good use of this equipment in order to strengthen peace and social development in the country.
This gesture of solidarity is part of the process of disengagement of MONUSCO from South Kivu, started in January 2024. It testifies to the commitment and professionalism of the Chinese peacekeepers who, since their deployment in 2003, have contributed significantly to the strengthening of road infrastructure in the province of South Kivu. Indeed, the Chinese contingent’s engineering company has carried out numerous engineering projects that have improved accessibility and mobility in the region, including the repair of more than eighteen hundred kilometers of roads, the reconstruction of numerous bridges and the establishment of twenty heliports.
This gesture of solidarity and commitment to the development of the DRC underlines the importance of international cooperation for building a peaceful and prosperous future for all. He also recalls the essential contribution of MONUSCO peacekeepers to the consolidation of peace and the promotion of sustainable development in a country seeking stability and progress.