The Head of the United Nations Military Mission in Beni City Democratic Republic of Congo, Major General Kasongo Maloba Roberts, has commended Malawi armed forces’ intervention in driving away insurgents in the area which has enabled civilians to come back to their homes.
Major General Roberts made the remarks when the Malawi Minister of Defence held talks with him at MUNOSCO Headquarters in Beni City where rebels are disturbing local civilians’ way of life.
The Malawian troops in DRC working under the United Nations have two tasks which are the protection of civilians and fighting insurgents.
The troops in Beni City are deployed in bushes where rebel groups mount camps from where they attack civilians.
According to Major General Roberts Malawian soldiers are doing a commendable job protecting the civilians.
“People may tell you that we have been here for very very long, and that tells you the problem has not been solved. However, we are trying to do our best to solve the problems and restore people in this particular region,” Major General Roberts added.
Vice chairperson for the Defence and Security Committee of Parliament, Bester Awali, while commending the good job the men in uniform from Malawi are doing in DRC observed that the soldiers need enough support on equipment to diligently conduct the operations.
“So after touring all the sites that we went to, we have noticed that there are so many challenges that they are facing one of which is lack of equipment and as a line committee we are going to lobby for more funding to the MDF so that they procure the needed equipment,” said the Vice Chair, who is also Member of Parliament for Zomba Central.
The Minister of Defence, Harry Mkandawire, acknowledged that Malawian soldiers in DRC have made a commendable impact but need immediate support to beef up the operations in Beni City and other frontlines like Kilia where rebel groups are still posing a danger to the populous.
Since the intervention in the region started in 2018 local Congolese Nationals have managed to rebuild their homes and start a normal life as the insurgents have relocated to far areas.
“The situation in this part of DRC remains relatively calm but very unpredictable,” said Mkandawire.
Reported by Eunice Ndhlovu, MBC Online Services, DRC.
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