MaximsNewsNetwork: U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL in D.R. CONGO (MONUC)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 14 May 2010 - UN MONUC: Democratic Republic of the Congo - Members of the United Nations Security Council arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where they met with senior government officials, representatives of civil society and the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force (MONUC) serving in the African nation.

During the two-day visit, which was postponed from earlier this year due to the disruptions to air travel caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption, the Council are expected to hold talks with President Joseph Kabila and his key ministers.

Members will also hold discussions with senior officials of MONUC, which has been helping to bring peace to most of the vast African nation since 1999.

MONUC peacekeepers have, among other things, been providing logistical support to the Congolese national army in its operations against Rwandan Hutu rebels and other insurgent groups in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu.

The Council often makes periodic visits to different areas where UN peace operations are deployed. The current visit, led by Ambassador Gerard Araud of France, comes at a time when the future of MONUC is being determined.

Araud told reporters that MONUC will not remain indefinitely in the DRC, but when it goes, the DRC will have to be able to assure its sovereignty on the whole territory.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended in his latest report that the 20,000-strong force begin a drawdown of troops by 30 June. The Government has proposed a total withdrawal of the peacekeeping forces by 30 August 2011.

Council members are seeking to obtain a first-hand understanding of the MONUCs status in the DRC before extending or revising its current mandate, which expires at the end of May.
..... ( UNITED NATIONS MISSION D.R. CONGO: MONUC ) .....
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News & Politics

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• Democratic Republic Congo
• DRC
• UN Security Council
• MONUC
• Joseph Kabila
• UN peacekeepers
• Kivu
• Gerard Araud
• France
• MaximsNews Network
• Rwanda