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<p>United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (MONUSCO) has a clear mandate and we are working through the UN Security
Council and with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, MONUSCO,
the government of DRC and governments of the region to ensure it is fully implemented.</p><p>In
August, the UK used its Presidency of the UN Security Council to draw attention to
the importance of MONUSCO implementing its mandate, with the then Minister for Africa,
Mark Simmonds MP, chairing a discussion in the UN Security Council which also involved
senior Ministers from the region. In September my Hon Friend the Member for Rochford
and Southend East (James Duddridge MP), the Minister for Africa, discussed implementation
of MONUSCO’s mandate with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and
Head of MONUSCO, Martin Kobler (SRSG). Senior officials in Kinshasa and New York regularly
discuss progress and raise issues of concern, including when we believe peacekeepers
have fallen short in implementing MONUSCO’s mandate to protect civilians. This has
included accompanying the SRSG on visits to peacekeepers on the ground to emphasise
what more they need to do to implement the mandate. We have raised the importance
of political support for implementing the mandate with governments in the region,
including countries which contribute troops to the Force Intervention Brigade. We
are also contributing to an ongoing strategic review of MONUSCO which will focus on
ways to further deliver the robust and mobile force needed to fully implement the
mandate.</p>
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