As Security Council extends DR Congo mission, Ban Ki-moon focuses on mining reform
15 February 2007 – Highlighting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to pose “a threat to international peace and security in the region,” the Security Council today extended the UN mission in the impoverished African country for another two months.
The extension of the mandate of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC), which was due to expire today, came as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Congolese authorities to focus on security sector reform and tighten up legislation covering business practices relating to diamond and other mining because too much of the profits of these industries are going to fund armed conflict.
In its unanimously adopted resolution, the Council, citing the fact that DRC continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region, extended the mandate until 15 April.
Separately, Mr. Ban makes his remarks in his latest report at http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2007/68 on the DRC looking at whether or not sanctions should be imposed on the country as a way of cleaning up the mining industry. However, given the uncertainty of whether sanctions would work against such practices, as well as that in December the country swore in its first democratically elected President, the Secretary-General recommends against imposing them.
“While sanctions may inconvenience their targets, the general effect will be to diminish only marginally the general practices they are designed to curtail. In most of the eastern
He also points to a more general concern about possible UN sanctions against the DRC. “Imposing United Nations sanctions now may be perceived as punitive, whether they target State actors or not and whether they are intended to reflect on the capacity of the State to manage its affairs or not,” he says. “This might be another reason why United Nations sanctions may not be advisable at the present time.”
Instead, Mr. Ban urges the Government to reform the security sector and fight corruption, but particularly to tighten up on investors in the natural resource sector by making sure they adhere to regulations. He calls for the private sector to set better business standards itself, while also recommending setting up a cross-border commission to prevent corruption at the frontier.
“The question remains: what is likely to bring more order to the production and marketing of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s natural resources in a way that will allow greater security for the artisanal miners, less exposure to extortion by armed groups and the assurance of more revenues for the State and its public services?” he writes.
The Government must first and foremost institute security sector reform and improve trust and transparency by monitoring and fighting corrupt practices and taking effective action against violators, the report stresses.
The Secretary-General’s report was itself based on recommendations made by the so-called Group of Experts who visited the DRC late last year to look at the whole issue of sanctions, during which they found that while linkages still remain between armed groups and the exploitation of natural resources, the situation has become ever more complex.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc8955.doc.htm
Security Council
5630th Meeting (AM)
Security Council extends mission in Democratic Republic of Congo until 15 April,
Unanimously adopting resolution 1742 (2007)
Requests Secretary-General’s Recommendations
On Possible Adjustments to Mandate, Capacities
The Security Council this morning extended the mandate and personnel strength of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which was to expire today, until 15 April.
Unanimously adopting resolution 1742 (2007) and acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council requested the Secretary-General to report, as soon as possible and not later than 15 March, on his consultations with the Congolese authorities and to submit recommendations on adjustments the Council might consider making to the mandate and capacities of MONUC.
The meeting started at 11:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:35 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 1742 (2002) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the
“Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the
“Recalling the support it provided, in particular through the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), for the process of the Global and All Inclusive Agreement on the Transition, signed in Pretoria on 17 December 2002, and for the elections that represented the culmination of that process,
“Reaffirming its commitment to continue to contribute to the consolidation of peace and stability in the
“Underlining its attachment to the continuation of a regular political dialogue with the Congolese authorities, and recalling the importance it attaches to the consultations undertaken with them by the Secretary-General on possible adjustments to be made to the mandate and capacities of MONUC during this period,
“Taking note of the letter addressed to its President on 15 January 2007 by the Permanent Representative of the
“Noting that the situation in the
“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
“1. Decides to extend the mandate and personnel strength of MONUC, as set out in its resolutions 1565 (2004), 1592 (2005), 1596 (2005), 1621 (2005), 1635 (2005) and 1736 (2006), until 15 April 2007;
“2. Requests the Secretary-General to report, as soon as possible and not later than 15 March 2007, on his consultations with the Congolese authorities and to submit recommendations on adjustments the Council may consider making to the mandate and capacities of MONUC;
“3. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”
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