Security Council Press Statement on United Nations Organization Mission

in Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

The following press statement on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was read out today by Council President Ruhakana Rugunda (Uganda):

The members of the Security Council heard a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Alan Doss, on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The members of the Security Council expressed their full support to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in the implementation of its mandate in accordance with Security Council resolution 1856 (2008), in particular its actions to protect civilians.  They also encouraged MONUC, in collaboration with national authorities, to continue monitoring the performance and conduct of Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) units involved in joint operations against armed groups.

The members of the Security Council called for a full and urgent implementation of the 23 March agreements.  They also welcomed and encouraged further regional cooperation, in particular between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and commended the role played by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes, Olusegun Obasanjo, and his co-Facilitator, Benjamin Mkapa.

The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern over the renewed activity of illegal armed groups and condemned the targeted attacks against the civilian population by these groups, in particular the Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).  They also expressed grave concern over the continued reports of massive human rights violations, widespread sexual violence, and continued recruitment and use of children by illegal armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as some elements of the Congolese national security forces. 

The members of the Security Council stressed that fighting impunity is an integral part of the much-needed comprehensive reform of the security sector.  They welcomed recent steps taken by Congolese authorities to address the issue of impunity within the national security forces, including the announcement on 5 July 2009 of a “zero-tolerance policy” against criminal acts and misconduct in the armed forces.  They encouraged Congolese authorities to continue taking further affirmative steps in this regard and also reiterated their call upon Congolese authorities to establish an effective vetting mechanism within the national security forces.  The members of the Council undertook to continue to monitor progress in this regard and requested the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed of further developments.

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For information media • not an official record