150 individual weapons were handed over, as well as ammunitions and communications equipment, by the director of MONUC’s Ituri office Ms. Olamide Adededji to the FARDC commander for Ituri Colonel Nyembo Abdala.

These weapons have been collected from different armed groups between 2005 and 2008, including the FNI, the FRPI, and the MRC. In addition to the stored weapons, there were three containers of non functioning weapons that must be disposed of.

Upon receiving the weapons, the FARDC commander for Ituri Colonel Abdala thanked MONUC for its assistance and support throughout the different disarmament and demobilization programs that permitted the recovery of the weapons.

Ms. Adededji underlined that this remarkable work that contributed extensively to restoring the peace in Ituri was the fruit of close collaboration between the Congolese Government, MONUC, UNDP, UNICEF, the FAO, CARITAS and CONADER (now UE-PNDDR).

Although the various demobilization programmes have been a success, Ms. Adededji said that one must not forget the 8,200 ex combatants of Ituri that are still waiting to be reintegrated into the FARDC.

In Ituri 25,000 adults have been disarmed and demobilized, as well as, 13,000 children, of which 10,000 have benefitted from social rehabilitation programmes.