The United Nations Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix will begin his seven-day visit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he is expected to meet President Félix Tshisekedi on Thursday.
The two leaders are due to deliberate matters concerning how the United Nations can continue to support the peace efforts to the Congolese government.
According to Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Lacroix will begin his visit in the war-ravaged eastern part of the country.
He is expected to travel to the cities of Goma and Beni in North Kivu Province before proceeding to Bukavu in South Kivu Province, where he will be joined by Catherine Pollard, assistant secretary-general for management strategy, policy and compliance, as well as Christian Saunders, Special Coordinator for Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
While in the east, the contingent will review ongoing MONUSCO peace efforts, including the response to misconduct by UN peacekeeping personnel.
“In addition to discussions with provincial authorities, civil society, community leaders and UN staff, the delegation will visit a peacekeeping base in South Kivu which will be transferred to Congolese authorities in the coming days, in part of the first phase of the accelerated deployment of MONUSCO,” Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday during his daily press briefing.
Having last during his visit to the DRC in June 2023, Lacroix will meet President Tshisekedi as well as other partners to build on the collaboration established between the United Nations and the Congolese authorities in the context of the disengagement of MONUSCO from South Kivu.
“In Kinshasa, Mr. Lacroix will meet with national authorities, including the Head of State, to discuss challenges and opportunities, and how the United Nations can continue to support the country’s peace efforts,” Dujarric concluded.
