The mandate of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) "relates to the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants, but has no connection with the events we have recently witnessed through the media," Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Yevstigneyeva said at the UN Security Council on Thursday.
Various media sources have reported that members of foreign security companies are serving in the Congolese armed forces. One such company is a contingent of Romanian soldiers who were deployed to fight alongside the DRC army and secure the city of Goma.
The members of this training belonged to two private military companies, Ralf and Agemira, indirectly linked to France, according to the media. The contingent reportedly ceased operations last January, with the Romanians forced to take refuge in a MONUSCO base.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi insisted that these soldiers are not mercenaries but instructors who are helping brigade Congolese soldiers. Tshisekedi further confirmed that their number was around 1,000.
"The situation of peacekeepers in Goma and the surrounding areas is unstable," the Russian representative to the UN said, stressing that "the reputational risks for UN peacekeeping operations are too high."