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The ceremony was presided over by the Head of the Mission’s Office in Goma, Mr. Gani Are, in the presence of several United Nations officials, as well as representatives of the Mission’s civilian, military, and police components.
On this occasion, Colonel Mathias H. Capó officially took up his duties as commander of the battalion and the Uruguayan contingent. Colonel Rodolfo Ramírez will serve as deputy commander.
The departure of this battalion and the arrival of the new rotation taking its place also mark a new chapter in Uruguay’s 25-year history of engagement in Africa.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo , successive commanders and their troops have put their expertise and capabilities at the service of peace and stability, in support of the implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate.
Tribute to a Battalion That Served Under Difficult Circumstances
The rotation involves 177 of the contingent’s 748 military personnel. Among those remaining on duty are 47 women military personnel. The last flight carrying the peacekeepers of the new battalion is expected shortly, marking the completion of the rotation process.
This transition is also a significant moment for those leaving the Democratic Republic of the Congo after several months of service. For many, their departure means returning to their families and loved ones, but also leaving behind a human and professional experience shaped by the realities of the field, the challenges they encountered and the bonds forged during their mission.
In his address, Mr. Gani Are praised the courage and dedication of the battalion leaving the Congo, recalling the particularly difficult circumstances in which it carried out its mission.
“Today, we gather to pay tribute to a rotation that, through its courage and sacrifices, wrote an indelible page in the history of URUBATT in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
He particularly recalled that, under the command of Colonel Julio Giménez, these troops faced the crisis that followed the fighting in Goma in January 2025.
They did so, he stressed, “with heroism, discipline, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to peace and to the population we serve.”
For Mr. Are, this contribution cannot be separated from the men and women who wore the Uruguayan uniform and served under the United Nations flag:
“We express our deepest respect and eternal gratitude to each and every one of the men and women whose dedication, courage and selfless service made this mission possible.”
“What truly distinguished this battalion was its humanity”
For Colonel Roberto Wenzel, the battalion’s outgoing commander, the achievements of the rotation cannot be measured solely through operational results. He emphasized a dimension that, in his view, will remain at the heart of the battalion’s experience: humanity.
“What truly distinguished this battalion was its humanity: beyond their operational performance, these men and women served with courage, discipline and dedication in the cause of peace and in fulfilling the United Nations mandate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said.
Upon officially taking command of the Uruguayan contingent, Colonel Mathias H. Capó expressed his honor at assuming this new responsibility.
He affirmed his determination to build on the work accomplished by his predecessors while opening a new chapter for the contingent.
A 25-Year history that continues
The ceremony in Goma is part of a broader history: 25 years of Uruguay’s involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa.
Over the years, many Uruguayan peacekeepers have served in the field, passing on their experience, values and sense of duty to those who followed them.
This continuity was particularly evident during the ceremony: as one rotation bid farewell to the Mission, another took over with the same determination to serve under the United Nations mandate.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
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