UN / DRC KASAIS

Peacekeeping Chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told the Security Council that the violence in the Kasaï provinces in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “has reached extremely disturbing levels.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:53
• Production Date: 11 July 2017
• Asset Language: English; French
• Personal Subject: JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX; JOSEPH KABILA KABANGE
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - MONUSCO
• Subject Topical: ELECTIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; VIOLENCE
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 1928398
• Parent Id: 1928398
• Alternate Title: unifeed170711a

Description

STORY: UN / DRC KASAÏS
TRT: 02:53
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 JULY 2017, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

11 JULY 2017, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France - Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“The violence in the Kasaï provinces in western DRC has reached extremely disturbing levels.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France - Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“In response to the developments in the Kasaï provinces, MONUSCO has established small and mobile presence in various locations to help protect civilians. It has deployed personnel in Bulungu, Luiza and Chimbulu in Kasaï-Central province and reinforced its existence presence in Kananga and Mbuji-Mayi. Through a combination of human rights monitoring and political outreach supported by a light but increasing military presence, the mission is helping to bring back some measure of stability wherever it can.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France - Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“I was encouraged by the assurances given to me by President Kabila regarding his determination to ensure that the crimes committed in the Kasaïs do not go unpunished. Statements of intent must however be followed by concrete actions. The level of cooperation and support to be provided to the team of international investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council will be a test of the government’s commitment to accountability.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ignace Gata Mavita, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations:
“The government is aware of the troubling insecurity in the eastern part of the country and the two Kasaïs. For this reason, it remains mobilised and remains determined, in initiatives that have been undertaken with the assistance of our army, to restore order, peace, and security as well as to persevere in eradicating national and foreign armed groups.”
11. Med shot, delegates
12. Wide shot Council
13. Pan left, Lacroix walks up to podium
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France - Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“The DRC is set to enter another potentially precarious period. And I think there was agreement around the table that the implementation in full and in good faith of the 31st of December agreement is absolutely vital for the future of the DRC and the immediate and pressing goal of moving forward in the preparation and the holding of free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections in DRC by December 2017 which is the deadline provided for in the agreement.”
15. Pan right, Lacroix walks away

Storyline

Peacekeeping Chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told the Security Council today (11 Jul) that the violence in the Kasaï provinces in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “has reached extremely disturbing levels.”

Lacroix said that in response to these developments in the Kasaï provinces, the UN Mission (MONUSCO) “has established small and mobile presence in various locations to help protect civilians.”

However, he said despite these efforts, disturbing reports of human rights violations and abuses continue to be received on a daily basis.

Lacroix said he was “encouraged” by assurances given to me by President Joseph Kabila “regarding his determination to ensure that the crimes committed in the Kasaïs do not go unpunished.” However, he said, statements of intent must be followed “by concrete actions.”

He said “the level of cooperation and support to be provided to the team of international investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council will be a test of the government’s commitment to accountability.”

The DRC’s ambassador, Ignace Gata Mavita, said “the government is aware of the troubling insecurity in the eastern part of the country and the two Kasaïs. For this reason, it remains mobilised and remains determined, in initiatives that have been undertaken with the assistance of our army, to restore order, peace, and security as well as to persevere in eradicating national and foreign armed groups.”

Outside the Council after the meeting, Lacroix said it was more necessary than ever for the national political parties and international partners to be mobilized in order to put the 31 December 2016 Agreement back on track.

He said “the DRC is set to enter another potentially precarious period. And I think there was agreement around the table that the implementation in full and in good faith of the 31st of December agreement is absolutely vital for the future of the DRC and the immediate and pressing goal of moving forward in the preparation and the holding of free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections in DRC by December 2017 which is the deadline provided for in the agreement.”