Democratic Republic of the Congo

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday called for a speedy withdrawal of a key UN peacekeeping mission that has been in the nation for nearly 25 years. … While the plan under discussion was to begin withdrawal in December 2024, DR Congo in September asked the Security Council to start the process in December this year, when Tshisekedi is running for re-election.

[…] Political dynamics were driven by continued preparations for the 2023 general elections, heightened political tensions, including over the perceived lack of transparency and inclusivity of the electoral process, as expressed by parts of the opposition, and ongoing regional efforts to address insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) unanimously voted Tuesday to extend the mandate of their regional military force which had been deployed to quell violence in the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Defence and security forces used lethal force on Wednesday to repress planned anti-United Nations protests in Goma. A government delegation arrived in the city on Monday to hold hearings and other proceedings “to establish responsibility”, [Interior Minister Peter] Kazadi said.

And in a show of continual anger against the UN Mission known as Monusco, gunfire could be heard for most of the morning following new demos against the Mission’s presence in North Kivu. 

Human Rights Watch says it has documented a surge in political violence as well as growing incidents of arbitrary arrests, abductions and threats against political rivals. The group says authorities in the DRC are targeting opposition leaders and groups, curtailing their freedom, and arresting officials ahead of the December general election.

.

[…] The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said it was "sounding the alarm on a significant escalation of violence" in the area.

[…] Integrated provincial teams are key to a joint transition plan set up by the UN and DRC government in 2020. 

Congolese former minister Chérubin Okende, a member of the opposition in parliament, was found dead in his car on Thursday. His murder puts a question mark over the possibility of democratic elections in December.