KINSHASA – The UN’s chief peacekeeper Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Sunday held talks with the president of Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila, following violent demonstrations which left 14 peacemakers killed and several injured in North Kivu province on December 7.
Lacroix highlighted the need for greater security and new elections in DRC, adding that his department will do everything in its power to stifle any form of violence emanating from various provinces of the country.
According to Lacroix, the violence in the eastern DR Congo which left around 30 peacemakers wounded in the attack was “a collective problem that needs to be tackled collectively”.
According to sources close to the president, Kabila and Lacroix discussed the attack, which is the worst in the force’s history, including the security situation in the restive, landlocked nation.
The pair is prepared to put sustainable security measures not only to protect peacemakers but to protect the whole national at large.
Lacroix also urged the DRC government to build strong relations with neighbouring countries to fight ethnic rivalry in the country, “Cooperation with neighbouring countries is also very important,” he was quoted saying.
North Kivu province, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, has long been plagued by violence and kidnappings between government soldiers and militia groups, as well as inter-ethnic clashes.
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