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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: EU authorises troop deployment

NAIROBI, 12 June 2003 (IRIN) - The EU Council adopted on Wednesday a decision to deploy troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to form part of the 1,500-strong multinational force requested by the UN Security Council.

In a statement issued from Brussels, the EU said it had launched the military operation in the DRC, codenamed "Artemis", in accordance with the mandate set out in the UN Security Council Resolution 1484.

The UN resolution, adopted on 30 May, authorised the deployment of an interim emergency multinational force in Bunia, eastern DRC, until 1 September. France offered to lead the force and is contributing 750 troops. The remainder were to come from other EU countries. So far, Belgium, Britain, Portugal and Sweden have indicated that they would contribute to the EU component of the force.

The force is mandated to secure the town of Bunia, which has been rocked by fighting since 7 May when the Ugandan army withdrew. The multinational force is also mandated to protect Bunia airport, UN staff, humanitarian workers and internally displaced people in camps in the town.

In adopting Operation Artemis, the EU said that the force commander of the EU troops was to, "with immediate effect, release the activation order (ACTORD) in order to execute the deployment of the forces, prior to the transfer of authority following their arrival in theatre, and start execution of the mission".

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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