MONUC Peacekeepers in traditional dress

With an end to civil war in 2003, and with successful democratic elections in 2006, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has an unprecedented opportunity to escape a cycle of conflict and suffering, and to realise its potential.  The UK is working with the international community to support efforts towards this, including those of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Alan Doss.

The UN has one of its biggest peacekeeping missions in the DRC.  The mission, known by its French acronym MONUC, has an authorised force strength of 16,700 troops.

Most recent

Considerable progress towards greater peace and stability has been made in the past eight months: The signing of the Nairobi Communique (which committed DRC and Rwanda (with international community support) to co-operate on resolving the problem posed by the FDLR militia); the Goma peace agreement (stabilisation measures, both political and economic, underwritten by a ceasefire between the various militias); the creation of the Amani peace program, and the establishment of the Joint Monitoring Group.  

MONUC plays a key role in both follow-up to the peace conference and the Nairobi Communique.  Its mandate was last extended by UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1794, to 31 December 2008.

The Security Council has recently adopted UNSCRs 1804 (on the FDLR) and 1807 (renewing the DRC arms embargo and sanctions).

In January 2008 the Council authorised MONUC to assist the Congolese authorities in preparing for and conducting local elections in UNSCR 1797.

The Security Council is visiting the DRC as part of its visit to Africa in June 2008.

Background

In October 1996 dissident groups, led by Laurent Kabila, and strongly supported by Rwanda and Uganda, rose in revolt against the then President Mobutu.  They entered Kinshasa on 17 May 1997 and Kabila declared himself President.  Mobutu fled to Morocco, where he subsequently died.  Internal and external dissatisfaction with the new president grew until late summer 1998, when a new rebel group announced itself, again backed by Rwanda and Uganda, and a second conflict broke out.  SADC states led by Zimbabwe and Angola intervened on the side of the Kabila Government.  (Laurent Kabila was assassinated by one of his bodyguards in 2001, and was replaced as President by his son, Joseph Kabila.)

By mid-1999 front lines had stabilised, with three belligerent groups respectively controlling a third of the country, each backed by different regional states.  A cease-fire was signed in Lusaka in August 1999.  The Security Council established MONUC to facilitate the implementation of the Lusaka Accord.  It has a budget exceeding US$1 billion and is currently the largest UN peacekeeping mission.

Human Rights

Abuses of human rights and humanitarian standards by the remaining rebel militias and Congolese army continue at a high level, particularly in the east of the country.  There are frequent reports of summary execution of civilians, widespread rape and sexual violence, banditry and forced labour.  Ethnic tensions are high in the east and north-east of the country, where violence displaced large numbers of civilians during 2007 and humanitarian needs are acute.  Reports of intimidation and arbitrary arrest of human rights workers, journalists and political leaders have remained high since the election period. Justice for victims of human rights abuses has been sparse, but in 2006 some trials were carried out in the DRC, and perpetrators of abuses sent to prison.

Sanctions

The United Nations imposed an arms embargo in July 2003 – Security Council Resolution 1493 (2003), extended by SC Resolution 1552 (2004), 1596 (2005), 1649 (2005), 1698 (2006) and 1807 (2008).