News Analysis: Dialogue between UN Mission, DR Congo gov't headed for collision despite assurances

The UN Mission for Stabilization of Congo (MONUSCO) could be headed on a collision course with the Congolese authorities over the recent UN Security Council Resolution No. 2277 that continues to arouse varied reactions and interpretations.

On April 16, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) Maman Sambo Sidikou tried to calm the Congolese authorities by defending the Security Council vis-a-vis criticisms by the Congolese government.

DR Congo government argues that the resolution imposes on the Congolese state wishes of countries contributing troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

The current crisis was caused by Security Council's rejection of a request by Kinshasa for the reduction of MONUSCO force by half.

"The decision to maintain the current number of MONUSCO officers despite consensual agreements reached through strategic dialogue between the latter and the government is not acceptable. Some Security Council member states have adopted attitudes that make them think they can impose their wishes on DR Congo. But this is something that no Congolese government will accept," DR Congo Government Spokesman Lambert Mende said on April 8, 2016.

According to the consensual conclusions from the strategic dialogue alluded to by Mende, MONUSCO military officials accepted the request before the mission's head presented a report on the situation in DR Congo to the Security Council.

MONUSCO chief was reprimanded by the Security Council members while in New York for his document that proposed a reduction of UN troops.

This could easily explain why Sidikou began a campaign on April 16 to calm the rising tension.

Regarding the strategic dialogue between the Congolese government and the UN which proposed reduction of UN troops, the MONUSCO head reminded journalists that it was a meeting of experts between March 9 to 19 in Kinshasa that came up with the criteria for reducing MONUSCO troops, as well as the regions that will be impacted by the withdrawal of forces.

"After the meeting, MONUSCO noted that request submitted by the Congolese side regarding the reduction by half of the UN force. The recommendation by the Congolese side was however not accepted by the Security Council which noted that the conditions were not ideal for such a reduction," Sidikou confirmed.

He said the Security Council had asked that MONUSCO continues carrying out its mandate of protecting civilians, neutralizing armed groups and stabilizing the country.

At the same time, the Security Council expressed concern over lack of progress on the political front, something that could jeopardize the country's stability.

Several Security Council members expressed concern over the shrinking political space in DR Congo, and reiterated the need to protect human rights, especially during the electoral period.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in DR Congo noted that "talks will continue to come up with the best roadmap for withdrawing MONUSCO troops, in conformity with the criteria defined by the pertinent Security Council resolutions."

On the other hand, the DR Congo government has vowed to continue demanding for reduction of the forces, with Mende arguing that "the UN Security Council's decision making process is dysfunctional."

"The ambiguity of this situation is illustrated by, among other examples, the justification of retaining the current number of MONUSCO forces in DR Congo due to instability in neighbouring Burundi as if the two countries are one or there is a link between the cause and effect of their respective situations," the government spokesman said, insisting that "this was unacceptable." Endit