By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

DAKAR, DR Congo – With after a new wave of violence and instability sweeping through the central African nation, Congolese government is oddly pushing for a swift withdrawal of United Nations (UN) peacekeepers.

UN peacekeepers (MONUC) have been in Congo for eleven years.  Their numbers now reaching over 20,000, making them one of the largest peacekeeping missions in the world.

Even though the UN peacekeepers have been faulted in the past for backing down in the face of certain rebels, many fear that a hasty withdrawal may be dangerous.   President Joseph Kabila does not share this fear and is wiling to risk Congo’s return to the brutalities that plagued them during their four years of civil war.

“For the moment, as you know, the situation remains extremely fragile.  So we have to do it right rather than do it quickly,” said Gerard Araud, France’s permanent representative to the UN.

“MONUC won’t leave if we are not sure that the Congolese authorities are able to do the job.  That’s the discussion we should have with the Congolese authorities,” added Araud.

Tomorrow ambassadors will travel to Kinshasa for talks with the Congolese officials who want MONUC to clear out of the country by September 2011.

According to The National, human rights groups have been warning officials that Congo is still racked “by violence, with massacres, rape and looting commonplace as armed ex-rebel groups profit from the mining of gold, coltan and other valuable minerals.”

For more information please see:

Independence Online – UN Mission Accused of Inaction – 15 April 2010

The Economist – Unloved for Trying to Keep the Peace – 15 April 2010

The National – UN Envoys Prepare for Battle Over Congo Peace Troops – 15 April 2010

Reuters – UN’s Congo Trip Dominated by Peacekeepers’ Exit – 15 April 2010