UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC examines the terms of reference for DRC-Rwanda Verification Mechanism
MONUC examines the terms of reference for the DRC-Rwanda Verification Mechanism
The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has already initiated a study of the terms of reference for the Verification Mechanism to address the conflicts between the DRC and Rwanda, MONUC Head of Public Information, Ms. Patricia Tome announced Wednesday in Kinshasa during the weekly news conference.
Addressing the Mission's weekly news conference, Ms. Tome recalled that a mini summit on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held on the edge of the third African Union summit in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia decided that a Verification Mechanism be put in place to sort out the conflicting issues between Rwanda and DRC and regular regional meetings be held to appease ongoing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda.
Ms Tome indicated that after the meeting, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, revealed to the press that ''the United Nations and the African Union agreed on a verification mechanism''. He underscored that ''the verifications will focus on the allegations of the presence of foreign troops in DRC and of course the presence of Rwandan troops in DRC. Simultaneously, the Mechanism will verify the allegations of the support to ex-Far (former Rwandan Armed Forces) and Interahamwe by the DRC''.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, William Lacy Swing, who also attended the summit alongside the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and Jean-Marie Guéhenno, returned to Kinshasa on Tuesday. Mr Swing convened a meeting Wednesday morning in MONUC HQ to study the term of reference for the Verification Mechanism, Ms. Tome declared, noting that the Addis-Ababa meeting stressed the need to urgently put in place such a mechanism.
The head of MONUC Public Information also informed the news conference of new fighting in Ituri between the 'Forces Armées populaires du Congo (FAPC) and the Front des Nationalistes Intégrationnistes (FNI)'. The weeklong clashes, which affected the villages of Avu, Rona, Ngote and Ndrele, caused the displacement of civilians, she indicated. She however assured that calm returned on Tuesday, following a cease-fire signed by the two warring armed groups on Monday evening under the aegis of MONUC.
Despite the clashes, the displaced persons started returning home, Ms. Tome declared, adding that late June, 200 people left the displaced camp in Bunia and 400 others left in July. The camp for the displaced has 14,000 people. ''We noticed, two weeks ago, a gradual movement of returnees which has been confirmed and which is ongoing in the town of Bunia and along Kasenyi axis'', Ms. Tome says.
Furthermore, MONUC has announced its intention to launch a humanitarian train along Kisangani-Ubundu axis, 125 kilometres long. The objective is to supply 25 tonnes of stuff in Lubumbashi, Ms. Tome said, highlighting that this ''follows the peace train operation to Kindu, and is aimed to carry out a middle term operation and re-launch humanitarian trains rather than to open railways.
MONUC humanitarian situation was also raised by the Mission's military spokesperson, Major Abou Thiam, who reported that MONUC Uruguayan Navy unit flied to the rescue of three barges stuck in the mud 175 km North Mbandaka between 27 to 29 June. ''MONUC rescued the 375 passengers including two new born'', Major Thiam indicated, adding that this operation brings to 9 the number of all the rescue operations provided by MONUC to stranded passengers in Congo river. The Mission saved the lives of 1,480 desperate people since 29 January 2004.
With regard to the military situation, Major Thiam indicated that MONUC continued working conjointly with the Congolese military authorities. In this context, General Kissempya, FARDC Chief of staff met with General Illya Samaïla, MONUC Force Commander last Friday. ''The meeting helped both Generals to discuss the overall security matters and the procedures for military operations in particular'', Commander Thiam added.
Addressing the Mission's weekly news conference, Ms. Tome recalled that a mini summit on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held on the edge of the third African Union summit in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia decided that a Verification Mechanism be put in place to sort out the conflicting issues between Rwanda and DRC and regular regional meetings be held to appease ongoing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda.
Ms Tome indicated that after the meeting, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, revealed to the press that ''the United Nations and the African Union agreed on a verification mechanism''. He underscored that ''the verifications will focus on the allegations of the presence of foreign troops in DRC and of course the presence of Rwandan troops in DRC. Simultaneously, the Mechanism will verify the allegations of the support to ex-Far (former Rwandan Armed Forces) and Interahamwe by the DRC''.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, William Lacy Swing, who also attended the summit alongside the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and Jean-Marie Guéhenno, returned to Kinshasa on Tuesday. Mr Swing convened a meeting Wednesday morning in MONUC HQ to study the term of reference for the Verification Mechanism, Ms. Tome declared, noting that the Addis-Ababa meeting stressed the need to urgently put in place such a mechanism.
The head of MONUC Public Information also informed the news conference of new fighting in Ituri between the 'Forces Armées populaires du Congo (FAPC) and the Front des Nationalistes Intégrationnistes (FNI)'. The weeklong clashes, which affected the villages of Avu, Rona, Ngote and Ndrele, caused the displacement of civilians, she indicated. She however assured that calm returned on Tuesday, following a cease-fire signed by the two warring armed groups on Monday evening under the aegis of MONUC.
Despite the clashes, the displaced persons started returning home, Ms. Tome declared, adding that late June, 200 people left the displaced camp in Bunia and 400 others left in July. The camp for the displaced has 14,000 people. ''We noticed, two weeks ago, a gradual movement of returnees which has been confirmed and which is ongoing in the town of Bunia and along Kasenyi axis'', Ms. Tome says.
Furthermore, MONUC has announced its intention to launch a humanitarian train along Kisangani-Ubundu axis, 125 kilometres long. The objective is to supply 25 tonnes of stuff in Lubumbashi, Ms. Tome said, highlighting that this ''follows the peace train operation to Kindu, and is aimed to carry out a middle term operation and re-launch humanitarian trains rather than to open railways.
MONUC humanitarian situation was also raised by the Mission's military spokesperson, Major Abou Thiam, who reported that MONUC Uruguayan Navy unit flied to the rescue of three barges stuck in the mud 175 km North Mbandaka between 27 to 29 June. ''MONUC rescued the 375 passengers including two new born'', Major Thiam indicated, adding that this operation brings to 9 the number of all the rescue operations provided by MONUC to stranded passengers in Congo river. The Mission saved the lives of 1,480 desperate people since 29 January 2004.
With regard to the military situation, Major Thiam indicated that MONUC continued working conjointly with the Congolese military authorities. In this context, General Kissempya, FARDC Chief of staff met with General Illya Samaïla, MONUC Force Commander last Friday. ''The meeting helped both Generals to discuss the overall security matters and the procedures for military operations in particular'', Commander Thiam added.
