During the visit, UN staff, as well as international and national humanitarian partners and the provincial authorities of North Kivu, paid a vibrant homage to the engagement and work accomplished by Ross Mountain during his five years of service in the DRC.

On Friday 23 October last, Mr. Mountain held to a series of meetings in Goma with MONUC staff and other UN agencies based in North Kivu, the humanitarian community and provincial authorities, the Governor and the President of the provincial assembly.

On the morning of 24 October last, he officially opened United Nations Day with the United Nations team and local students, before commencing a two day visit on the ground.

Accompanied by the DRC representative for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), he visited several important MONUC protection zones in the territories of Rutshuru and Lubero, where MONUC has Mobile Operational Bases.

Mr. Mountain firstly visited Muhangi, in Lubero territory, where a team of Blue Helmets are working with a Joint Protection Team (JPT), to support the protection of civilians in a localized setting, and in close coordination with local partners and the population.

He then successively visited Rwindi, Kibirizi and Kilima, in Rutshuru territory. Mr. Mountain appreciated the efforts of MONUC’s civilian and military components to reinforce the mechanisms to protect civilians in sensitive zones. He also had the opportunity to meet the locals and to listen to their security and humanitarian concerns.

On the morning of 26 October last, Mr. Mountain made a farewell tour to Bukavu, the second stage of his last visit to eastern DRC.

During an interview with Radio Okapi Goma, Mr. Mountain underlined that despite all the persistent problems, if one reflected on the past, Congo was undoubtedly on the right track.

“I believe that the progress accomplished is impressive, and the help of the international community and MONUC should not be underestimated. I think that in eastern DRC we also have one of the world’s biggest humanitarian operations, which has had some important achievements.”

He went on to say that there are still many displaced people and the humanitarian situation remains a concern.

“But there are also a lot of displaced people that have returned home, and we must help them to return to a normal life. I’m proud of what the United Nations family and the humanitarians have achieved in this regard.”

He paid homage to the work accomplished by United Nations staff, both Congolese and international, before concluding that he was “optimistic for the future of Congo and its people.”