DR of Congo: New Mission chief discusses security, humanitarian concerns in Bunia
The new head of the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has met in Bunia with the commander of the multinational Force, local relief workers and regional leaders, to discuss a range of ongoing security and humanitarian concerns aimed at preventing chaos when the force pulls out in September.
William Swing, the new head of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC), arrived Sunday in Bunia, the resource-rich town in the DRC's battle-scarred northeastern region, and the site of a weeks-long turf war between rival ethnic militias that left over 400 dead and countless wounded and displaced. Mr. Swing held meetings with General Jean-Paul Thonier, commander of the Interim Emergency Multinational Force (IEMF) deployed to the area last month to help quell the violence.
He also met with representatives of the humanitarian community and the Ituri Interim Administration (IIA), which was established last April under a peace agreement between rival militias and local authorities to manage the troubled region until a new post-war national government takes over. During the talks, they expressed apprehensions over a security vacuum following the withdrawal of the multinational Force scheduled for 1 September.
Mr. Swing reassured the Ituri officials that the deployment of some 3,000 Bangladeshi troops was due to begin in the next few weeks. Once deployed, the Force will be comprised of about 3,800 soldiers from several countries. He added that the exact mandate of the Force and its possible deployment outside Bunia will be defined in a Security Council resolution currently being prepared.
The IIA officials and relief workers also expressed concern at the continued insecurity and impunity in Bunia, noting that over 18,000 displaced people were still stranded at the UN's airport compound after being harassed and discovering that their houses were occupied when they tried to return to them. To this end, the MONUC head announced that more UN police officers would be arriving soon to give a refresher course, particularly in the areas of peacekeeping and judicial police, to some 200 police officers whose names were provided by Ituri Interim Administration.
The humanitarian workers also hoped to soon see the opening of more relief corridors, which will enable them to bring assistance to the populations outside Bunia in particular Kasenyi, which borders Lake Albert. MONUC has scheduled an initial reconnaissance mission to the area following a de-mining operation.
Mr. Swing, an American citizen, arrived in Kinshasa last Friday to take up his duties as MONUC chief. Since 2001, he has served as Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Western Sahara. Prior to that, he spent much of his long and distinguished diplomatic career serving as a US Ambassador to African nations, including South Africa, Nigeria. Liberia, Republic of the Congo, as well as the DRC.