Security Council approves one-month extension for UN mission in DR of Congo

Deeply concerned over the continuation of hostilities in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in particular in the province of North Kivu, the Security Council today extended the United Nations mission in that country for another month.

Reaffirming its readiness to support the peace process, in particular through the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC), the Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending MONUC's mandate until 30 July.

The Council also took note of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent special report on the situation in the conflict-plagued DRC, in which he had recommended that the mission's mandate be extended for a full year - until next June - and that its military strength be boosted to nearly 11,000 troops. He also recommended that the possibility of imposing an arms embargo be considered in war-ravaged Ituri district as well as the Kivus.

In the report, Mr. Annan stresses that after nearly five years of continuous fighting in the DRC, the Congolese parties and the UN were now standing at the intersection of peace and war. "Securing a successful transition and a lasting peace will require the utmost cooperation between the country's leaders and the Organization," he writes.

"The magnitude of the challenges should not to be underestimated," Mr. Annan observes. "The country is still divided, military hostilities continue in the east, the population is traumatized by years of conflict, the country is poverty stricken and State services and infrastructure are non-existent." MONUC, he continues, is well, if not uniquely placed to play a central role in assisting the parties through the transition period.