DR of Congo: UN reports continued withdrawal of foreign troops

Foreign troops are continuing their withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country reported today.

As of yesterday, a total of 2,287 Ugandan soldiers had left the DRC, according to MONUC, as the mission is known. Those troops have completely pulled out of Béni and Gbadolite.

The Zimbabwean army has withdrawn 2,075 of its military since 1 October, completing a full departure from Kananga and Mbandaka.

Rwanda has pulled out 10,233 soldiers since mid-September, completing its withdrawal from Kindu, Kalima, Punia, Masisi, Kabalo, Kngolo, Nyunzu, Kalemie and Minembwe.

Burundi has also announced that it would withdraw a 700-strong battalion from the Fizi-Baraka, MONUC reported.

Last Friday, the Security Council issued a press statement hailing the planned pull-out of foreign forces from the DRC and stressing the need for MONUC to monitor the process. The move was also welcomed last week by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose spokesman issued a statement "urging all parties in the DRC to work in good faith towards an expeditious resolution of the conflict that has caused so much suffering."