DRC: Full UN Withdrawal by 2011

United Nations, May 29. -The UN Security Council decided to pull out 2,000 troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in June this year and fully withdraw its contingent in June 2011.

The agreement, adopted unanimously on Friday by the 15-member UN body establishes the end of the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC), which will change its name for UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

The resolution containing both measures says that the pullout of 2,000 UN soldiers will be materialized in areas with improved security, after which MONUSCO will be made up of 19,815 troops, 760 observers and 391 policemen.

The decision of the Security Council comes after a DRC government request to pullout the MONUC contingent, deployed since 1999, by August 2011 at the very latest.

The resolution places on the shoulders of the Congolese government the main responsibility for the country's security, peacekeeping and development, and urges authorities to secure the protection of the population by establishing a professional, sustainable security force.

It also urges to promote peaceful solutions to conflicts as part of an agreement to curb the threat of foreign armed groups in order to restore full authority of the State in clash-free areas.

Two weeks ago, a delegation of the Security Council travelled to the DRC to meet with President Joseph Kabila, Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito and parliamentary leaders. (Prensa Latina)