Security Council extends mission's mandate in DR of Congo until end of October

The Security Council, faced with the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) expiring today, extended it for one month, until the end of October.

Noting that the situation in the DRC continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region and taking note of several resolutions on the matter, it also decided "to remain seized of the matter."

The Council has before it a report from Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling for more troops for the peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC), and a one-year extension of its mandate until October 2006, after the installation of a newly-elected government.

A referendum on the constitution is scheduled to be held before the first extension of the transitional political process expires at the end of December, he said in his 19th report to the Council on MONUC. Parliament is likely to have voted by then for the second and final six-month extension of the transition, so as to give the Independent Electoral Commission enough time to organize the elections.