DR of Congo: UN and government officials meet on security sector reform

In order to consolidate stability, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must reorganize its military and police in an open manner, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette told a meeting in New York of officials from the United Nations and the country's government today.

"As in other countries emerging from civil war, reform of the security sector in the DRC encompasses not only the challenges of creating a unified army, establishing a police force and disarming and reintegrating former combatants," she told a high-level meeting convened to draw up reform proposals. "It also involves creating a transparent security sector framework - one that clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Government and legislature in managing the security of the country."

She called on participants to go beyond outlining a wish list, and instead work out "a clear and realistic plan" that addresses long-term policies, as well as such immediate issues as military and police integration, disarmament, institution-building and security requirements.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been concerned that donor governments and international financial institutions, faced with enormous challenges in many other areas of the world, have been giving the DRC a lower priority, Ms. Fréchette said. "But even though the war in the DRC has ended, the greatest task lies ahead: building a democratic State."

She called on all parties to refrain from any actions that would upset the delicate arrangements in place that offer the best chance to end the war definitely.

Meanwhile in the DRC, the UN mission, known as MONUC, today reported that it took 133 passengers to safety on Saturday after the barge on which they were travelling began to take on water at Maita, a locality about 56 kilometres from Mbandaka.

The boat left the capital, Kinshasa, on 15 January bound for Kisangani, but it hit a rock four days later. Subsequently, a small fire broke out but was immediately extinguished. More than 50 of the passengers told MONUC they preferred to remain on board the stable barge with their cargo.

Last Monday MONUC rescued 280 people from a fire aboard a whaleboat at Lukolela, 150 kilometres south-west of Mbandaka.