Mark Bibbey, UK Mission with Kabila in Kinshasa

On 7 June, the delegation went to Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for meetings with the Congolese leadership, including President Kabila, and with the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Alan Doss, and the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC).  The Council recalled the Government of DRC’s primary responsibility to consolidate peace and stability in DRC and encouraged the parties to build on the new dynamic offered by the signing of the Nairobi communiqué and the Goma peace conference. The Council also stressed to Congolese authorities the urgent need to intensify their efforts on security sector reform, and the need to address the humanitarian situation.

On 8 June, the delegation visited a UN-run camp for internally displaced persons in the northeastern town of Goma and held discussions with the displaced persons and with UN humanitarian staff working in the camp. They also met with the Mixed Commission on the follow-up mechanism to the Goma Agreement and with female victims of sexual violence in the area.