UN Security Council extends mandate of mission in DR Congo

UN Security Council extends mandate of mission in DR Congo

2011-06-29 03:51:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a year.

The Council unanimously adopted a resolution that will extend the UN mission known as MONUSCO until June 30, 2012. The peacekeeping operation succeeded the MONUC mission last year.

In this way, the nearly 20,000 uniformed personnel with MONUSCO will remain in DR Congo for at least one more year. The UN force includes some 17,000 blue helmets, more than 1,000 police officers and almost 1,000 international civilian staff.

Earlier this month, Roger Meece, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MONUSCO, informed that despite the security improvements, many challenges remain especially in the northern and eastern regions, affected by armed conflict.

The Council determined on Tuesday that any future re-configuration of MONUSCO will be determined on the objectives reached by the mission and the Congolese government.

The objectives set by the UN Security Council included consolidating State authority across the country and reducing the threat from armed groups in North Kivu, South Kivu and Orientale provinces.

Furthermore, the Council members urged the government to ensure that the upcoming November elections take place in a free, fair, credible and transparent environment. In this way, authorities and political parties must quickly adopt and implement codes of conduct and accredit national and international observers.

MONUSCO was established on July 1, 2010 and replaced the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) which was set following the signing of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in July 1999 between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five regional States.

MONUC was initially established to observe the ceasefire and disengagement of forces and maintain liaison with all parties to the Ceasefire Agreement. Later on, the Council expanded its mandate to include multiple related additional tasks. It was later renamed as UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) to reflect the new phase reached in the country.

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