Security Council- From MONUC to MONUSCO

1 Jun 2010

Security Council- From MONUC to MONUSCO

New York, 28 May 2010- Extending the mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) until 30 June 2010 today, the Security Council also decided that from 1 July it would bear the title "United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)", in view of the new phase reached in the country. SC Resolution 1925 (2010)

Unanimously adopting resolution 1925 (2010) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council authorized the withdrawal of up to 2,000 United Nations military personnel by 30 June, "from areas where the situation permits". It also decided that MONUSCO would be deployed until 30 June 2011, authorizing it to concentrate its military forces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo while keeping a reserve force capable of redeploying rapidly elsewhere.

Further by the text, the Council decided that MONUSCO would comprise, in addition to the appropriate civilian, judiciary and correction components, a maximum of 19,815 military personnel, 760 military observers, 391 police personnel and 1,050 members of formed police units. Future reconfigurations of MONUSCO would be determined as the situation evolved on the ground, including: the completion of ongoing military operations in North and South Kivu as well as Orientale provinces; improved Government capacity to protect the population effectively; and the consolidation of State authority throughout the territory.

Emphasizing that the protection of civilians must be given priority, the Council authorized MONUSCO to use all necessary means to carry out its protection mandate, including the effective protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders under imminent threat of physical violence, as well as the protection of United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment. The Mission would also support Government efforts to fight impunity and ensure the protection of civilians from violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

The Council further mandated MONUSCO to monitor implementation of the arms embargo imposed under resolution 1896 (2009), and to seize or collect any arms or related materiel whose presence in the country was in violation of the ban. The Council demanded that all armed groups — the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in particular — immediately cease all forms of violence and human rights abuses against Congolese civilians, especially rape and other forms of sexual abuse.