Felix Tshisekedi, the Democratic Republic of Congo President has ordered his government to speed up the withdrawal of a United Nations peacekeeping mission to make sure it commences at the end of the year.
The mission, titled MONUSCO, had taken over from an earlier U.N. operation in 2010 to help dispel the insecurity in the eastern region of the Central African country, where armed groups battle over territory and resources.
However, its presence has become progressively unpopular in recent years for what observers have tagged a failure to safeguard civilians against militia groups, sparking deadly protests
Over 40 persons had been killed and dozens wounded in an army clampdown on violent anti-U.N. demonstrations in the eastern city of Goma back in August.
Another demonstration held in July 2022 had resulted in over 15 deaths, including those of three peacekeepers in Goma and Butembo city.
