• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Monday 31 October 2005

DRC: UN Security Council extends mandate of UN Mission

NAIROBI, 31 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - The UN Security Council has extended to 30 September 2006 the mandate of the UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), UN News reported.

A resolution on this, adopted unanimously on Friday by the 15-member Council, followed a recommendation by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for an additional bridage of 2,580 personnel for the Congo.

"The Council authorises the increase to allow for the deployment of an infantry battalion in Katanga, with its own air mobility and appropriate medical support," UN News reported.

It said the battalion to be deployed to Katanga Province would provide additional security within its operational area during the country's election period in 2006.

The decision to extend MONUC's mandate comes as a result of the Council's concern about the continuing hostilities by militias and foreign armed groups in the eastern and northeastern Congo, "and the threat they posed to the holding of elections", UN News said.

The Council authorised an increase of 300 personnel in MONUC's military strength.

Underlining the temporary character of the increase, the Council requested the Secretary-General to downsize or repatriate the additional strength from 1 July 2006 at the latest, and to report to the Council before 1 June 2006 on the assessment to be made for that purpose, UN News said.

In addition, the Council called on Congo's transitional institutions and on all Congolese parties "to ensure that free, fair and peaceful elections take place, and that the timetable for polls developed by the Independent Electoral Commission is scrupulously respected, and underlines in this regard that it the responsibility of the Congolese authorities to adopt necessary legislation without further delay".

The Council also called on the Government of National Unity and Transition to reform the nation's security sector, by quickly integrating the armed forces and the national police by ensuring adequate payment and logistical support for their personnel. It called on international donors, as a matter of urgency, to engage firmly in helping with the integration, training and equipping of these two services.

[ENDS]

This material comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but May not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. All materials copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2005