UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC satisfied by breakthrough in disarmament of armed groups in Ituri
The Disarmament and Community Reintegration process in Ituri known as DCR « is speeding up » MONUC's spokesman, Mamadou Bah told the news conference. « As of 11 January 2004, 2031 ex-combatants have so far turned over their weapons and 12,664 weapons and ammunition have been collected which is an important breakthrough for the DRC process to be applauded, adding to the already made achievements», MONUC spokesman declared. «One of the factors having helped the DCR is certainly the destruction of some militia camps in Ituri where massive human rights abuses were committed. Such operations, notably the one in Ndrele, led several militiamen to suddenly report to transit sites and willingly hand over their arms », Bah explained.
The Spokesman further announced the rehabilitation work carried by MONUC peacekeepers on the road linking Bunia to Béni, 144 kilometres long. The UN has also been doing de-mining work on the road. «The rehabilitation work would facilitate the resumption of traffic on this vital road and consequently lead to the decrease in the price of the commodities sold in Bunia market», Mr. Mamadou Bah said.
MONUC spokesman further briefed on the activities of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC, William Lacy Swing, for the period running from the beginning of the year: On 10-11 January 2005, MONUC's chief participated, as an observer, to the 23rd annual session of the African Union (UA) in Libreville, Gabon. During the summit meeting held by the AU Peace and Security Council, William Swing made a presentation on the current situation in DRC as well as the relating challenges and prospects. In the margin of the meeting, William Swing conferred with Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and South African president Thabo Mbeki, Mr. Bah added.
The Spokesman further told the news conference that during his visit to the United States, William Swing met with US government officials on 5 January and members of the Congress in Washington. During the rest of the week (3 to 7 January 2005), the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for the DR Congo was in New York, where he briefed the Permanent Representatives of troop-contributing countries them on the DRC situation and MONUC. He also briefed the Security Council members, the heads of UN agencies and officials from humanitarian and non-governmental organizations. «The Special Representative was also at the UNHQ during the transmission to the Security Council of the UN Secretary-General's sixteenth report on MONUC », Mamadou Bah said.
During a news conference held in the UN headquarters in New York on 7 January, William Swing explained to the international press that in spite of the alarming situation in Eastern DRC, important progress were made. However, according to MONUC, some huge tasks remain to be accomplished, notably the repatriation of between 10,000 and 15,000 troops of the armed groups still on the Congolese territory, the Mission's spokesman reported.
The acts of sexual exploitation and abuses committed by some MONUC staff in the DRC were also raised during the news conference held jointly by the Chief of the UN Mission in the DRC, William Swing, and the head of the UN Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Mr. Bah said. The Special Representative described as « inexcusable and awful » the acts perpetrated by MONUC civilian and military staff. « New measures will be taken by the UN to address this issue and swiftly eradicate the problem. Sanctions will continue to be taken against the perpetrators of such acts within the framework of the zero tolerance policy ». William Swing announced the decision to create a unit of eight persons within MONUC in order to monitor the implementation of the Code of Conduct within the Mission, the Spokesperson highlighted. Moreover, the OIOS continues its investigations on the allegations of sexual abuses; a special team, composed of UN Senior Officials was also dispatched from New -York to the DRC for a two-month mission in order to conduct thorough investigations. During the same press briefing, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, for his part, voiced his anger against those, among the UN staff, who have betrayed the confidence placed on them by the Congolese people, thereby tarnishing the image of the United Nations Organisation.
MONUC Spokesman also spoke of the 30-31 December 2004 investigations conducted by a MONUC team on the human rights violations committed in Buramba (Rutshuru) on 17'22 December. «MONUC notes with satisfaction that following its investigations that confirmed the assassination of 30 civilians by the FARDC rebels (ex-ANC) of the 123rd battalion belonging to the 12th Brigade, an ad hoc commission was dispatched to the scene by the provincial security committee as well as the civilian and military authorities in the region to secure the population», he said. MONUC also notes with satisfaction that the province governor Mr. Serufuli and the commander of the 8th military region, General Amisi, after acknowledging the responsibility of his troops of the 123rd battalion in the killing vowed to transfer the battalion to another locality, in a joint press conference with MONUC chief in Goma, on 10 January 2005.
Responding to a question about the joint operations conducted in Walungu, South Kivu by the FARDC and MONUC, the Head of the Mission's Military Operations, Lieutenant Colonel Cheikh Gueye, said they were proceeding normally with the sensitisation of the Rwandan rebel armed groups present in that part of the country. He also informed that the situation was calm in Kanyabayonga and announced the withdrawal of the FARDC dissident troops from Kirumba to Kanyabayonga on Tuesday 11 January.
MONUC spokesman further briefed on the activities of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DRC, William Lacy Swing, for the period running from the beginning of the year: On 10-11 January 2005, MONUC's chief participated, as an observer, to the 23rd annual session of the African Union (UA) in Libreville, Gabon. During the summit meeting held by the AU Peace and Security Council, William Swing made a presentation on the current situation in DRC as well as the relating challenges and prospects. In the margin of the meeting, William Swing conferred with Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and South African president Thabo Mbeki, Mr. Bah added.
The Spokesman further told the news conference that during his visit to the United States, William Swing met with US government officials on 5 January and members of the Congress in Washington. During the rest of the week (3 to 7 January 2005), the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for the DR Congo was in New York, where he briefed the Permanent Representatives of troop-contributing countries them on the DRC situation and MONUC. He also briefed the Security Council members, the heads of UN agencies and officials from humanitarian and non-governmental organizations. «The Special Representative was also at the UNHQ during the transmission to the Security Council of the UN Secretary-General's sixteenth report on MONUC », Mamadou Bah said.
During a news conference held in the UN headquarters in New York on 7 January, William Swing explained to the international press that in spite of the alarming situation in Eastern DRC, important progress were made. However, according to MONUC, some huge tasks remain to be accomplished, notably the repatriation of between 10,000 and 15,000 troops of the armed groups still on the Congolese territory, the Mission's spokesman reported.
The acts of sexual exploitation and abuses committed by some MONUC staff in the DRC were also raised during the news conference held jointly by the Chief of the UN Mission in the DRC, William Swing, and the head of the UN Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Mr. Bah said. The Special Representative described as « inexcusable and awful » the acts perpetrated by MONUC civilian and military staff. « New measures will be taken by the UN to address this issue and swiftly eradicate the problem. Sanctions will continue to be taken against the perpetrators of such acts within the framework of the zero tolerance policy ». William Swing announced the decision to create a unit of eight persons within MONUC in order to monitor the implementation of the Code of Conduct within the Mission, the Spokesperson highlighted. Moreover, the OIOS continues its investigations on the allegations of sexual abuses; a special team, composed of UN Senior Officials was also dispatched from New -York to the DRC for a two-month mission in order to conduct thorough investigations. During the same press briefing, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, for his part, voiced his anger against those, among the UN staff, who have betrayed the confidence placed on them by the Congolese people, thereby tarnishing the image of the United Nations Organisation.
MONUC Spokesman also spoke of the 30-31 December 2004 investigations conducted by a MONUC team on the human rights violations committed in Buramba (Rutshuru) on 17'22 December. «MONUC notes with satisfaction that following its investigations that confirmed the assassination of 30 civilians by the FARDC rebels (ex-ANC) of the 123rd battalion belonging to the 12th Brigade, an ad hoc commission was dispatched to the scene by the provincial security committee as well as the civilian and military authorities in the region to secure the population», he said. MONUC also notes with satisfaction that the province governor Mr. Serufuli and the commander of the 8th military region, General Amisi, after acknowledging the responsibility of his troops of the 123rd battalion in the killing vowed to transfer the battalion to another locality, in a joint press conference with MONUC chief in Goma, on 10 January 2005.
Responding to a question about the joint operations conducted in Walungu, South Kivu by the FARDC and MONUC, the Head of the Mission's Military Operations, Lieutenant Colonel Cheikh Gueye, said they were proceeding normally with the sensitisation of the Rwandan rebel armed groups present in that part of the country. He also informed that the situation was calm in Kanyabayonga and announced the withdrawal of the FARDC dissident troops from Kirumba to Kanyabayonga on Tuesday 11 January.
