Congo’s president wants the large U.N. peacekeeping mission to start leaving the country this year

By CARA ANNA
Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Congo’s president wants the world’s second largest United Nations peacekeeping mission to move up its departure from the country, starting this December, saying it has failed. His address to the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders accused the 17,000-strong peacekeeping mission of being unable to confront the conflicts in eastern Congo that are “tearing apart” the central African nation. He wants to move up the start of the peacekeeping mission’s withdrawal from December 2024. Eastern Congo has long been overrun by dozens of armed groups seeking a share of the region’s gold and other resources. Frustrated Congolese assert that no one is protecting them from rebel attacks.