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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: Annan picks envoys to push formation of unified national army

KINSHASA, 5 June 2003 (IRIN) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed two special envoys to help with the formation of a unified national army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the director of public information for the UN Mission in the DRC, known as MONUC, said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Speaking in the capital, Kinshasa, Patricia Tome said that Annan had selected for the task Moustapha Niasse, who had served as Annan's special envoy for the DRC peace process, and Gen Maurice Baril of Canada, who had served as a military advisor to the UN.

"The two men will be available to work with all parties to help move along the constitution of a new national government," Tome said. "Mr Annan hopes that progress on the political front will help to influence progress on the military front."

Following more than four years of war, Congolese parties reached a power-sharing agreement in April that called for the formation of a unified national army. However, disagreement over the composition of the army has delayed the inauguration of a national transition government.

Most recently, the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) rebel movement suspended its participation in the follow-up committee to the inter-Congolese dialogue, accusing the Kinshasa government of trying to monopolise control of a unified national army. However, the group rejoined negotiations being held in Kinshasa on Wednesday.

"We have returned because we want the process to move forward," Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga, RCD-Goma spokesman, told the media.

Tome also announced a visit by the UN Security Council to the subregion, from 7 - 12 June 2003. The 15 member states currently forming the Council are scheduled to visit Angola, Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

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