UN peacekeeping mission, DR Congo set up joint coordination centres

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the country’s armed forces have established two joint coordination centres to support Government efforts to restore safety and security to the volatile north-eastern provinces of the vast African nation.

The rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) are continuing to attack DRC forces (FARDC), civilians and UN peacekeepers.

Violent conflict uprooted some 250,000 people from the strife-torn North and South Kivu provinces last year.

The UN mission (MONUC) and FARDC have already appointed their respective commanders at the new centres in the towns of Sake and Kiwanja and will shortly name officers to carry out joint operations on the ground.

Additionally, MONUC reported that as of earlier this week, nearly 800 ex-combatants and over 1,000 of their dependents were repatriated by the mission through its Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRRR) initiative.

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has helped almost 6,800 Rwandan refugees return home from the DRC.