In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on April 25th, 2024, a significant event unfolded near Bukavu, marking the closure of a crucial United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) base.
The MONUSCO, in the process of gradually withdrawing from the country, along with local authorities, attended a ceremony commemorating the closure of this base located near Bukavu, in the strife-torn province of South Kivu, which housed a substantial Pakistani contingent of peacekeepers.
MONUSCO’s ongoing phased withdrawal from the South Kivu province is part of a larger strategy, with 2,000 peacekeepers scheduled to depart from this eastern region by June 30.
Following the closures of MONUSCO bases in Kamanyola, Amsar, and Bunyakiri, on April 25, 2024, attention shifted to the closure of a significant base housing the Pakistani contingent, which had been stationed near Kavumu airport, adjacent to Bukavu, for 21 years.
Addressing the assembled peacekeepers during the ceremony, the head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Pakistani contingent in South Kivu: “More than 4,000 operations have been conducted in South Kivu by the Pakistani contingent to secure the population. They have effectively contributed to deterring and combating the activities of armed groups in their operational zone, ensuring the safety of local populations.”
Keita also highlighted that approximately 50,000 displaced individuals, residing in 12 sites, had sought refuge near various MONUSCO bases, notably in Mikenge.
Tributes were paid to the 31 Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives during their mission.
In the presence of General Yav Avul Robert, commander of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in South Kivu, provincial minister of Infrastructure, Gaston Cissa wa Numbe, explained that the vacant buildings left by the MONUSCO contingents would be handed over to the Congolese army.
He also made a plea to the Pakistani contingent, stating, “We hope that you will continue to advocate for the cause of the DRC within the concert of nations and that one day, we will be able to identify and consequently sanction all other forces, visible and invisible, that relentlessly support the Rwandans of the M23 in destabilizing, destroying, and plundering the resources of our country.”
This formal ceremony not only marked the closure of a significant MONUSCO base but also served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by international peacekeepers in the pursuit of stability and security in the Democratic Republic of Congo.