UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Monuc press release
On Friday, 23 April 2004, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. William Swing, sent official letters to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda and of the Democratic Republic of Congo, regarding the alleged attacks launched recently by the FDLR ?Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda? near the Rwandan border as well as disturbing reports of the presence of Rwandan troops in DRC territory.
In this context, since 19 April, in cooperation with the DRC military authorities and with the Rwandan government, MONUC has reinforced its verification operations concerning the FDLR attacks in North and South Kivu, on both sides of the border.
On 21 April, MONUC noted the presence of Rwandan troops ? the "RDF" (Rwandan Defence Force) ? in the area of Bunagana, inside DRC territory, where a Rwandan officer ordered a MONUC patrol to withdraw.
In this context, MONUC emphasizes the following:
- MONUC recalls that the presence of any foreign troops in DRC territory is illegal;
- MONUC is concerned about the lack of coordination in the ongoing respective
military actions against elements of the FDLR ;
- MONUC denounces restrictions on the freedom of movement of its troops within the DRC;
- The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General has expressed his deep concern and has alerted both Governments to the seriousness of the situation, urging them to make direct contact with each other with a view to coordinating their operations and to avoid any escalation of tension, in the spirit of the Declaration of Principles on Good Neighbourliness of 25 September 2003, and in accordance with the pledges made by both countries during the Pretoria meeting held on 27 November 2003.
On 21 April, MONUC noted the presence of Rwandan troops ? the "RDF" (Rwandan Defence Force) ? in the area of Bunagana, inside DRC territory, where a Rwandan officer ordered a MONUC patrol to withdraw.
In this context, MONUC emphasizes the following:
- MONUC recalls that the presence of any foreign troops in DRC territory is illegal;
- MONUC is concerned about the lack of coordination in the ongoing respective
military actions against elements of the FDLR ;
- MONUC denounces restrictions on the freedom of movement of its troops within the DRC;
- The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General has expressed his deep concern and has alerted both Governments to the seriousness of the situation, urging them to make direct contact with each other with a view to coordinating their operations and to avoid any escalation of tension, in the spirit of the Declaration of Principles on Good Neighbourliness of 25 September 2003, and in accordance with the pledges made by both countries during the Pretoria meeting held on 27 November 2003.
