The Congolese government has asked the United Nations for the departure as soon as
possible
of its spokesperson in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to official correspondence consulted on Wednesday by AFP.
"
The government will appreciate (...) very much that arrangements are made for Mathias Gillmann to leave Congolese territory as soon as possible
," wrote Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula to the head of MONUSCO.
One of the most important missions of the United Nations
"
The presence of this official on the national territory is not likely to promote a climate of mutual trust and serenity so essential between the Congolese institutions and Monusco
", explained Christophe Lutundula.
“
The comments made by Mathias Gillmann on RFI claiming that Monusco did not have the military means to deal with the M23 are at the root of the current tension.
We have asked Monusco in a friendly way that he leaves the country
,” a government source who did not wish to be identified told AFP.
Since July 25, angry demonstrators have ransacked and looted the facilities of the UN mission present in the DRC since 1999. Four peacekeepers were killed in Butembo and at least 28 demonstrators were killed in Goma, Butembo and Kanyabaonga (North Kivu).
Four others were electrocuted in Uvira (South Kivu) during the dispersal of their march, according to an official report.
Read alsoDRC: 36 dead, new official toll of anti-UN protests in the East
Monusco is one of the largest UN missions deployed in the world with some 14,000 soldiers in several eastern cities.
Since 2019, pro-democracy movements and some local elected officials have been calling for the departure of Monusco.
They criticize Monusco for refusing to fight the hundred armed groups active in eastern Congo.
