After decades of brutal struggle, I was encouraged by a recent announcement of a new new by President Trump. peace agreement In the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda and Congo joined the Oval Office by the Foreign Ministers, they prepared a plan to end a war. Killed 7,000 people In the first two months of this year, hundreds of thousands of more displaced. It was a welcome surprise – and a necessary beginning.
I have seen the cost of this struggle closely. In 2016, I rode in a UN helicopter and went to a rural village along the Rwanda-Kogo border. The same thing was standing between the villagers and a magnificent militia attack, which was a ring of peace soldiers of the United Nations.
As we prepared to depart, a woman approached and begged me to take her with me. She was nervous that the peace soldiers would leave. That moment never left me.
Today, United Nations Peace Mission in Congo Still is the only line of defense for thousands of citizens caught in the crossfire. with more than 13,500 The total personnel on the ground are being pushed to the verge as the Rwanda-supported M23 rebel movement sweeps in Eastern Congo, which seizes major cities like Goma.
But among fighters and citizens, the United Nations peace remains among the peace soldiers, yet doing their work.
That job just became difficult – more important. The peace agreement announced in Washington set a 30-day time limit for a regional security structure and 90-day deadline for economic integration.
In principle, the Congress government will demobilize the rivalry-focusDemocratic force for the liberation of RwandaThe militia, while the Rawandan soldiers returned from the Congoles region.
But diplomacy is only one piece of puzzle. This is where the United Nations Peace Mission arrives.
Peace on paper means very little without implementation. In this region, the United Nations top diplomat, guinea’s binto pests, are well deployed to put pressure for pressure through all sides. And the Peacekeeping Mission – with its deep local appearance and relationships – would be important to broke the trust, confirm compliance and respond quickly to any revival of violence.
In fact, this is already. In June, the United Nations helped to facilitateStruggle in Ituri provinceSigned by six armed groups – a quiet but meaningful win.
The Uganda was an important step in calming the violence from other rebel groups working in Eastern Congo, including the Uganda Allied Democratic Force, which had relations with both regional and international Islamic terrorist networks.
Nevertheless, critics have long called the United Nations Peace Mission to close. About $ 1 billion annuallyIt is one of the most expensive missions of the United Nations. Its mandate is spread. The congregation government has also called for the lack of forces. This process is already going on, South Kivu formally returned to the congregational control in April 2024.
But a combined un-cotton reviews last time have shown that major security benchmarks are unmat. There is a lack of readiness in military units. The courts are understood. Demobbilization efforts are lagging behind. Now drawing funding will be like carrying parachutes from a skidivar mid-discount.
Still this is happening right.
On Capital Hill, MPs passed a White House rescue package, which reduced the funds for the United Nations peace, including efforts in the Congo. Cuts sidelined the general investment process, increasing the alarm on both sides of the corridor. Sen Patty Murray (D-Was) Called it “An illegal end-up around Congress.”
Other people warned that it sets a dangerous example – completes foreign policy programs without legislative inspection.
Strategic strategies are very high.
China has steadily extended its funding and trup contribution to the United Nations peace, putting itself in position as a global security stakeholder. If the US moves away from missions such as the United Nations peace missions in Congo-especially in a resource-rich region where rare earth minerals are shaping future geophysics-the risk of reducing both effects and reliability.
In addition, withdrawing now will guarantee everyone a comprehensive human disaster as refugees in the form of floods in nine border countries of Congo. The armed faction, as showing history, rarely lags behind – export of conflict in Central Africa.
Peacekeeping is not just about shoes on the ground. It is about appearance. In remote villages and war-torn cities, blue helmets are often the only signs that the international community is still seeing-when a government cannot do, when the militia will return and when peace starts.
Earlier this year, the office office and budget officials defended the rescue as a cost-saving measure. But what is the cost of failure in the Congo? What is the cost of walking away from a peace process. America helped the broker?
The woman did not know the name of the mission on the border that day. He did not care about the budget or Congress processes. She only knew that she offered security in Blue.
Pickeeping is not a donation, this is a strategy.
It provides unique validity, shares the burden with colleagues and has a much lower cost than war. And $ 1.50 per year, it is one of the most cost -effective investments in global stability that America can create.
The President is proud that the US was proud of the peace agreement. Supporting the peace of the United Nations is a way to help succeed.
Peter Yao is the president of a better world campaign,
