APA-Kinshasa (DR Congo) A delegation from the United Nations Security Council led by Jean Maurice Ripert, the French ambassador to the UN arrived on Saturday in Kinshasa for a two-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Upon his arrival in the Congolese capital, Ripert stressed the UN support to the efforts to restore peace and justice, and boost economic development in DR Congo.

The French diplomat added that the UN mission was also aimed at reforming the security system and improving the ties between DR Congo and its neighbours.

This visit of the UN delegation is part of a ten-day mission in five African countries, namely Djibouti, Sudan, Chad, DC Congo, and Cote d’Ivoire.

The delegation will hold talks with President Joseph Kabila, Premier Antoine Gizenga and the speakers of the two Congolese chambers of parliament, Leon Kengo wa Dondo of the Senate and Vital Kamerhe of the National Assembly.

On Sunday, the UN envoys will head to Goma, in the eastern province of North-Kivu where they will meet local authorities, officers of the UN Mission in DR Congo (Monuc), civil society activists, the head-coordinator of the stabilization programmes in the east before visiting a refugee camp.

Nearly 80 percent of the Monuc troops are based in east of RD Congo.

With 17,000 soldiers, the Monuc is the world’s largest peacekeeping mission.

This visit is the ninth of its kind by UN Security Council officials to DR Congo.