Security Council extends UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo for another month
13 April 2007 – Stressing its commitment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the country’s post-war transition period, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission there for another month.
In a resolution adopted unanimously, the Council’s 15 members agreed to extend the current mandate and personnel strength of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (known as MONUC) until 15 May.
The resolution reaffirmed the Council’s support for “the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence” of the DRC, which is trying to rebuild after decades of civil war and misrule.
Last month hundreds of people were killed in the capital, Kinshasa, during fighting between Government forces and the guards of the former vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who lost the run-off round of landmark presidential elections to Joseph Kabila last year.
In the wake of those deadly clashes, the Council called on the DRC’s authorities and political parties to pursue national reconciliation and resolve their differences through dialogue.
In a separate development, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, will begin a six-day visit to the African country on Sunday.
Mr. Despouy, who has been invited by the Congolese Government, will make recommendations on how to strengthen the independence of the justice system after meeting with the Prime Minister, Government officials, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, UN staff, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others.
He will also look at the level of professional training for judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and the public access to the justice system.
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