The minister called the meeting amid concerns from the families and the independent return of dozens of Uruguayan members of the UN mission in the African country.

In January, Private Rodolfo Álvarez died during an attack by the M23 rebel movement, which left several injured. One of those injured, after recovery, died last Wednesday due to cardiac arrest. He was Corporal Julio César Álvarez.

The relatives of the Uruguayan soldiers in the Congo are demanding that the troop handover be carried out.

The handover was scheduled for late March and early April in a meeting between Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pierre-Lacroix.

Press reports here indicate that 34 Uruguayan peacekeepers have returned voluntarily since last year. Most did so after the M23 attack in January. In cases of voluntary repatriation, the United Nations does not cover the logistical or financial costs.

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