Published: January 27, 2012
Tense Political Climate Engulfs Congo
By Mina Fabulous 
The United Nations peacekeeping chief today said Congo is still experiencing a tense political climate since its presidential elections in November.
Millions of Congolese went to the polls on November 2011 to cast their votes in presidential and parliamentary elections,On his visit to DRC.
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous today the need for stability and reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A view of Guatemalan officers with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as they accompany MONUSCO Deputy Force Commander, Major-General Adrian J. Foster, and Commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Carter F. Ham, to meetings in Dungu, including with leadership of the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC). UN Photo/Myriam Asmani
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Mr. Ladsous also reaffirmed the UN's commitment to help the vast African nation through its mission (MONUSCO) to prevent conflict and ensure future elections occur under better conditions.
People, Politics and Elections
"There are indeed many lessons to be learned from the elections. The UN and MONUSCO will work to ensure that this internal process that is determined by the people of Congo alone can occur under better circumstances each time." - Mr. Ladsous
He stressed that there are certainly measures they can take to ensure that this essential process allows for national reconciliation under the best of conditions, respecting the rule of law, and with the objective of finding lasting solutions for the country.
Mr. Ladsous said the main purpose of his visit is to experience firsthand the work of the mission as well as to assess what it can do to advance reconciliation.
During his visit, the first to the DRC since his appointment in September, Mr. Ladsous will meet with several Government officials as well as politicians and UN representatives.
He is scheduled also to travel to the eastern town of Goma - a region where armed groups such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) are constantly active - to meet with provincial and local authorities.
Force Versus Politics
Mr. Ladsous stressed that to end the activity of such groups, the Government must reaffirm its authority over its entire territory and that MONUSCO will be working with the Government to strengthen the country's army as well as protect civilians.
The Security Council decided that MONUSCO would be deployed until 30 June 2011, authorizing it to concentrate its military forces in eastern DRC while keeping a reserve force capable of redeploying rapidly elsewhere. Considering the tense political climate in Congo, the United Nation faces a difficult job.
Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain english. Contact Mina through NewsBlaze.
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