Eastern DRC: Authorities Pay Tribute to MONUSCO Peacekeepers for Their Commitment to Peace [1]
The peacekeepers carry out day and night patrols alongside the FARDC to guarantee the safety of displaced people.
General Evariste Kakule Somo, Governor of North Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, was the first to speak on May 28, 2025, in Beni — the provisional provincial capital — on the eve of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, celebrated annually on May 29. Indeed, May 29 marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers: an occasion dedicated to honoring the commitment, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women deployed in peacekeeping operations around the world, and to remembering those who have fallen under the UN flag.
On this occasion, the Governor of North Kivu paid strong tribute “to all those men and women who came from elsewhere” for their role in the quest for stability in eastern DRC. According to him, many of them have paid with their lives during joint operations with the FARDC (Congolese Armed Forces) in the protection of civilians:
"On behalf of the provincial government of North Kivu and its population, I solemnly pay tribute to all those men and women who, coming from various countries across the world, have made sacrifices for peace in our country. North Kivu, which has suffered through decades of violence, has witnessed firsthand the constant commitment of MONUSCO peacekeepers alongside our FARDC and police. In Beni, they engaged in the fight against the ADF, often at the cost of their own lives, and some fell during joint operations with our forces. Recently in Goma, we saw them fall alongside our own soldiers, while trying to protect the population and the city from advancing enemies of the Republic.".
However, peace is not yet fully achieved, the Governor acknowledged, and much remains to be done. This is why he is calling for strengthened collaboration between the Congolese government, the United Nations, and local populations to achieve lasting peace in the region:
"We recognize that, despite the efforts made, peace has not yet been fully restored. However, every secured village, every life saved, every rekindled hope is the result of these joint efforts. It is imperative to continue coordinating efforts between the United Nations, Congolese authorities, civil society, and local communities to sustainably restore peace in the east of the country and particularly in North Kivu."
In Ituri, a neighboring province of North Kivu, the territory administrator of Djugu also expressed his support and recognition of the work of the peacekeepers this Thursday. According to Colonel Ruohin Mapela, “Without the presence of MONUSCO peacekeepers, there would be a cascade of massacres of civilians by armed groups in the Djugu territory.”. He noted that these peacekeepers ensure the direct protection of hundreds of thousands of displaced people, who are often targeted by armed groups.
The Ituri Province hosts more than 60 displaced person sites sheltering over one million people, most of whom are settled around MONUSCO military bases in Djugu territory, notably in Jina, Fataki, Drodro, and Blukwa, where peacekeepers conduct day and night patrols alongside the FARDC to ensure the safety of these displaced persons in the face of constant threats from militias.
They also respond to alerts from the population to thwart attacks by armed groups throughout their operational area. This allows thousands of residents to go about their daily activities freely including thousands of students attending school. The presence of peacekeepers also facilitates the free movement of people and goods along National Road 27.
According to the territory administrator, without the presence of MONUSCO forces to supplement the army’s efforts, the security situation would be dire in his jurisdiction: “Particularly in Djugu territory, there are several peacekeeper units working, and their impact is visible. For example, in the Djaiba grouping, if it weren’t for the presence of the peacekeepers, the situation would be catastrophic — there would be many victims, many killings.”
The various MONUSCO contingents also organize capacity-building training sessions for the FARDC to combat armed groups. These efforts aim to restore state authority throughout the province of Ituri.