Peacekeeping in the DRC: A Conversation with Vivian van de Perre of MONUSCO

Life in Goma, Eastern DRC

• 🌍 Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Head of MONUSCO, is based in Goma, the provincial capital in the eastern DRC, a region experiencing ongoing conflict.
• 🏙️ Goma presents a duality: by day, it appears functional with open markets and community service initiatives like the "Salongo"; by night, a curfew is enforced due to house-to-house searches by the M23 rebels targeting resistance groups.
• 🏞️ The environment is described as spectacular, with Lake Kivu and active volcanoes, yet overshadowed by active warfare and immense human suffering, including killing and displacement.

The Role and Challenges of Peacekeepers

• 🕊️ MONUSCO's mandate is to support the Congolese government in fighting armed groups, a role that has led to the M23 labeling peacekeepers as belligerents.
• 🚶‍♂️ This designation has severely restricted the freedom of movement for UN peacekeepers, preventing troop rotations and active protection of civilians in hotspots like Goma.
• 🤝 Peacekeepers conduct patrols, stabilize areas, and engage in dialogue, emphasizing the need to include civilian voices in peace processes, as they are the ultimate sufferers of conflict.
• 🏥 The distinction between "black UN" (peacekeeping) and "blue UN" (humanitarian and development agencies) is highlighted, with peacekeeping missions sometimes needing to distance themselves to avoid impacting humanitarian operations.

Impact of Conflict and Funding Cuts

• 💔 The conflict in eastern Congo is decades-old, with the population suffering for generations, exacerbated by recent M23 territorial gains and significant funding cuts, particularly from the United States.
• 📉 These funding cuts are seen as having a severe impact, worsening an already overwhelming humanitarian situation where needs have never been fully met.
• 🆘 The speaker expresses pessimism about the diminishing funding amidst growing global conflicts, leading to competition for scarce resources.

Personal Journey and UN Values

• 🎖️ Vivian van de Perre's career began in the Dutch army, where she was among the first women integrated into military academies, and she developed a passion for peacekeeping operations.
• 🌍 She has served in various challenging locations, including Yemen, Burundi, and the Central African Republic, finding that each deployment leaves a deep impression due to immersion in local cultures and the resilience of the people.
• 💖 Despite the immense personal sacrifices, including balancing family life and duty, she emphasizes that UN values—the core principles of peace, human rights, and dignity—are the driving force behind the commitment to peacekeeping.

Resilience and the Human Spirit

• 🙏 In times of crisis, people demonstrate incredible resilience, generosity, and warmth, a quality that deeply touches those working in conflict zones.
• 🏡 The ultimate desire of the population is for peace, the ability to live their lives, raise their children, and return home safely, a fundamental human aspiration that persists even amidst war.
• 🤝 Colleagues in peacekeeping missions often form deep bonds, becoming like family, supporting each other through extreme stress and danger, a testament to the human spirit in adversity.