Luanda - The deployment of Angolan military forces, as part of the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was discussed on Tuesday, in Luanda, between Angolan high ranked officers and the UN military adviser for peace support operations, Birani Diop.
The information was provided by the senior official of the United Nations (UN) after a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), General Altino Carlos José dos Santos, and a visit to the centre of operations of that institution.
The National Assembly unanimously has approved, at the request of the President of the Republic, the sending of a contingent of 500 soldiers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Angolan mission should secure the cantonment areas for the M23 elements and protect the members of the Ad-Hoc verification mechanism, following the ceasefire between the government troops and the rebels.
According to Birani Diop, "we had a detailed approach with the high hierarchy of the Angolan contingent in DRC to verify and ensure that this unit is in the best conditions to develop the activities entrusted".
He said that the UN welcomes the Angolan readiness to send military personnel for peace in the DRC.
He stressed that there is still no confirmation of exact date for the deployment of Angolan troops in DRC, but there are guarantees of speed so that the force will be on the ground as soon as possible.
The UN official said they also discussed the need for the necessary collaboration between the UN mission in DRC (MINISCO) and the East African community forces and to find ways to achieve the envisaged goals.
The Angolan mediation of the conflict in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resulted in a ceasefire agreement in that region since March 7th of this year.
At a mini-summit on peace and security in the Great Lakes region held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 17, 2023, African Heads of State and Government mandated Angola, in coordination with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kennyatta, a facilitator appointed by the East African Commission, to maintain contact with the leadership of the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23).
The M23 was created in 2012 when DRC soldiers revolted over the loss of power of their leader, Bosco Ntaganda, prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and alleged breaches of the March 23, 2009 peace agreement, which gives the movement its name.
