Kinshasa, 6 November 2009 - Alain Le Roy, Under Secretary General for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, left Kinshasa on Friday 6 November after a one week visit to the DRC, which included a visit to three provinces in eastern DRC. In his report he noted an improvement of the humanitarian and security situation since his last visit one year ago. Mr. Le Roy also announced the launching of a joint FARDC-MONUC team to conduct investigations in Lukweti, and the suspension of MONUC's support to some units of the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC).
Mr. Le Roy's visit to the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Orientale gave him the opportunity to talk with the Congolese national authorities, notably Prime Minister Adolf Muzito, the presidents of both houses of parliament, the Ministers for Defense and Foreign Affairs and the Vice Minister of the Interior.
Mr. Le Roy also had the opportunity to meet provincial authorities and civil society representatives. On the eve of his departure from Kinshasa, Mr. Le Roy spoke with the local and international press.
Mr. Le Roy noted an improvement in the security situation compared to the same time last year, when there was a tense situation with CNDP rebels camped just outside Goma. He added that there are a lot of things to be put right, but that the country is on the way out of crisis, "which is a good sign."
In the region, he noted an improvement of relations between the DRC and its neighbours, including an exchange of ambassadors between Rwanda and the DRC, and "all these are very good signs of the improvement of the situation."
He added that some progress had been made in the struggle against the FDLR rebels, as well as the integration of local armed groups into the national army. But he underlined that it would be necessary to "go much further to have a professional, disciplined and republican army, and I believe that MONUC is ready to bring all its support."
Mr. Le Roy said that the Kimia II military operation was as complex as it was important. There were important military successes he said, with 1,200 ex FDLR combatants repatriated to their country, as well as a similar number of dependents.
"But at the same time, operation Kimia II, to which MONUC brings logistics and operations support, is a complex task, especially in relation to MONUC's mandate that prioritizes the protection of civilians."
Mr. Le Roy noted the implication of certain FARDC troops in serious human rights violations against civilians in Lukweti, a zone of Masisi territory in North Kivu.
"We discovered a massacre in (the outskirts of) Lukweti that was perpetrated in a deliberate way. It is evidently a very important crime and there are instructions from the Security Council that state that we cannot support a unit that would evidently carry out attacks and human rights violations targeted against civilians, which was exceptionally serious," he underlined, making allusion to a 213th FARDC brigade, which were implicated in the massacre.
A preliminary investigation of the Joint United Nations Human Rights Office in the DRC concluded that at least 62 civilians were killed, including a substantial number of women and children.
For this reason, a certain number of measures have been taken, notably the immediate suspension of MONUC's support to the 213th brigade, but also the opening of a joint investigation with the DRC military authorities.
Mr. Le Roy clearly explained however that the suspension of MONUC's logistics and operations support to one FARDC unit did not in any way question MONUC's support in general to the FARDC or operation Kimia II.
"MONUC is strongly engaged to continue to support the FARDC in operation Kimia II, which is very important to neutralize the FDLR, and the maximum will be done to protect civilians."
In response to the decision to suspend MONUC's support, and in response to the Human Rights Watch report that accuses MONUC of supporting an army that violates international humanitarian law, Alain Le Roy underlined that MONUC's actions were made after an internal investigation was conducted.
He explained that MONUC could not open an investigation until October, due to difficulties in reaching and interviewing witnesses, because of the absence of communications infrastructure in the region.
In relation to MONUC's mandate (before the current one expires), Mr. Le Roy noted that the next mandate "should be close enough to the terms of the current one" which has the protection of civilians as its guiding principle, even though he said that a reconfiguration would be made after discussions with the sovereign authorities of the country.
"If the situation is peaceful, the mandate should be reconfigured," he said.
Before returning to Kinshasa on Tuesday last, Mr. Le Roy, accompanied by Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC Alan Doss and MONUC Force Commander General Babacar Gaye, visited many regions in Oriental province and North and South Kivu provinces, where he met the provincial authorities but also civil society representatives and local civilians.
In Dungu, Mr. Le Roy evaluated the deployment and work of Blue Helmets in Haut and Bas Uélé districts, and listened to the concerns of the local authorities and humanitarian agencies.
The populations of this vast region, which is three times the size of Sierra Leone, are in a constant state of insecurity because of acts of banditry from both residual LRA rebels and other bandits.
He inquired about MONUC's DDRRR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration) efforts, where a permanent team has been installed in Dungu to encourage residual LRA rebels to surrender. He also spoke with FARDC officers to appreciate better their challenges, especially with regard to mobility.
Most people appreciated the presence of MONUC troops in the region. Blue Helmets conduct daily patrols and provide a logistics and operations support to some 6,000 FARDC troops in the zone, who receive some 23 tons of MONUC food rations every week.
The base and landing runway constructed and maintained by MONUC facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and equipment, as well as the deployment of FARDC troops and support services to the FARDC. While pleased with MONUC's support, the territorial administrator advocated for more humanitarian aid and security support.
MONUC Forces will be reinforced with the upcoming arrival of Tunisian Blue Helmets in the zone, and this will increase MONUC's capacity for patrols, escorts and other protection activities.
On a stopover in Bunia in Ituri district, Mr. Le Roy visited Marabo and Nyakunde, 45 and 50km south of Bunia respectivly, in Irumu territory. In Marabo, the delegation met a group of vulnerable women, notably victims of rape and violence.
Addressing Mr. Le Roy, the group's spokeswoman underlined the necessity to better protect the zone's inhabitants, to allow them to reach their fields. Although peace has returned in Ituri, he noted that women continue to endure harassment, rape and other violence perpetrated by both militias and state security forces.
Despite the problems, MONUC was thanked for all the work being done to bring peace to the region.
In Nyakunde, Mr. Le Roy visited the Evangelical Medical Centre, which treats women victims of rape and sexual violence. A representative for the women spoke of 1,300 cases of rape since 2006. However, she underlined that it was thanks to MONUC that peace had returned to Nyakunde. She also appealed to the United Nations to enhance security in the zone, and to protect people against the incursions of the militias.
Mr. Le Roy assured the women of the continuous support of the United Nations to bring lasting peace to the region. He said that although the state had the ultimate responsibility for keeping the peace, MONUC will continue to support the FARDC and the authorities in putting an end to impunity.
In North Kivu, the delegation visited the localities of Ntoto and Nyabiondo, in Walikale and Masisi territories. Ntoto, a former bastion of the FDLR and a sensitive zone, is an example of the effective working of mechanisms put in place by MONUC to protect civilians.
Ntoto has a helicopter base installed since August 18 last, where the Blue Helmets assure the protection of civilians, thanks to the local protective plan put in place with the Joint Protection Team (JPT). Blue Helmets also sustain the DDRRR unit that works to repatriate FDLR combatants.
Ntoto base has 30 Blue Helmets, stationed close to the village of 2,000 inhabitants. The base acts as a shelter to the villagers, with protective trenches in place for civilians in times of need.
In this enclave inaccessible by road, Blue Helmets conduct foot patrols in the dense forested areas surrounding the village, which form a refuge for the FDLR rebels. MONUC civilian staff (through the JPT) is in place in attempts to reinforce communication with the local civilians.
MONUC assists some 1,500 FARDC troops in the area, resupplying them by helicopter and conducting reconnaissance flights. Wherever possible, Blue Helmets train the FARDC to help reinforce discipline.
In Ntoto, MONUC staff explained to Mr. Le Roy that since the establishment of the base, some 450 displaced families had returned to the village. A JPT (consisting of human rights, child protection and sexual violence specialists) had just made its second visit to Ntoto to ascertain the efficiency of mechanisms put in place for the protection of civilians.
In Nyabiondo, the delegation visited a MONUC Mobile Operational Base. Mr. Le Roy inquired about the security situation north of Nyabiondo, where clashes took place between the FARDC and the APCLS armed group that refused to disarm and reintegrate.
The MONUC base commander explained that these clashes had led to the displacement of civilians toward the base. He also underlined measures taken by the Blue Helmets to reassure civilians, such as foot patrols and market escorts, as well as security meetings with the local chiefs and authorities.
The Blue Helmets undertook other activities for the benefit of local civilians, such as medical assistance and the implementation of civil-military projects. Mr. Le Roy also met FARDC and the National Congolese Police officers, as well as representatives of several localities in the region, which reiterated their security concerns as well as the failings of state security forces in the area.
One of the reasons Mr. Le Roy stopped in Nyabiondo was related to the results of the Joint UN Human Rights Office preliminary investigation into human rights violations in the zone of Lukweti.
In Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, Mr. Le Roy met the provincial Vice Governor Mr. Jean Claude Kibala. He also visited the MONUC base in Sange, and Luberizi training centre where MONUC Blue Helmets give basic training to some 1,000 ex armed group troops that are being integrated into the FARDC.
