The decision to close the Lubero base is in line with the Congolese government's wish to see MONUSCO "speed up the process of its withdrawal from the DRC". / Photos MONUSCO Force
"By 31st December, MONUSCO will have closed its military base in Lubero, North Kivu. MONUSCO has taken steps to ensure that there will no longer be a mission presence in Lubero on that date, either civilian or military," said the ad-interim Head of the MONUSCO Office in Beni, Mr Abdourahamane Ganda, as he informed the Lubero Territorial Administrator on Thursday, 12th October, of the UN mission's decision to close its local sub-office.
This decision is in line with the Congolese government's desire to see MONUSCO "speed up the process of its withdrawal from the DRC," however, ensuring that this withdrawal is timely and responsible. "There will be movements of personnel and troops over the next few days. We ask for your cooperation to enable the teams assigned to this move to work in a safe environment", said Mr Ganda to the territorial authority. Lubero is located approximately 100km south of Beni, in the province of North Kivu.
21 years of collaboration
While regretting the "painful separation" between MONUSCO and the Congolese people, Colonel Alain Kiwewa, Administrator of the Lubero Territory, promised to identify, with the UN Mission delegation visiting Lubero this week, ways of maintaining the collaboration that has always existed between the Mission and the territorial authorities: "It's a collaboration that we value very highly," he stressed.
The Mission has been present in Lubero territory since 2002. At the time, its deployment was necessitated by the need to protect civilians against the presence of Laurent Nkunda's CNDP rebels and their attacks on the civilian population. Later, the CNDP was joined by FDLR rebels and other armed groups, causing a volatile security situation in the area. Lubero was the first military base for the "Grand Nord-Kivu" (Beni-Butembo-Lubero).
A useful presence
"MONUSCO's presence initially served as a deterrent to militiamen, who continued to attack civilians along national road number 4. However, with MONUSCO's daily patrols, these militiamen were often routed," recalls a Lubero resident, of a time in which movement was very limited.
The Mayor of Lubero Municipality, Mr Joseph Kavahwere Balukwicha, shared a similar sentiment, saying, "MONUSCO supported our army in the fight against the rebel groups who controlled the area at the time. The population was very happy with this support. The impact of MONUSCO's presence was palpable in this territory, as peace returned, and the country was even reunited, remembering that Lubero was under the domination of the RCD/KML...". However, he continued that the persistence of insecurity caused by armed groups in the area, made the progress and safety brought by MONUSCO at the time difficult to remember.