Democratic

DR of Congo: UN denounces re-recruitment, maltreatment of child soldiers

31 March 2006
Denouncing the re-recruitment of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations officials have called for the immediate release of youngsters by the various armed groups in the faction-ridden country.

UN agricultural development fund provides $15.5 million to help DR of Congo

29 March 2006
Poor farmers and fishers belonging to 55,000 rural households in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will benefit from a new multi-million dollar development programme, the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announced today.

DR of Congo: greater UN presence needed in Katanga to counter hunger, atrocities

23 March 2006
United Nations relief officials are calling for stepped-up humanitarian and peacekeeping measures to confront hunger and “horrific atrocities” in Katanga in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting between the army and Mai Mai rebels has driven over 150,000 people from their homes in the last six months.
Annan addresses UN Staff in the DRC

Annan says DR of Congo at ‘critical stage’ as enthusiasm mounts for June elections

23 March 2006
Describing the Democratic Republic of Congo as being at a “critical stage” ahead of landmark 18 June elections, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today met officials in the east of the country, saying that he felt Congolese were excited at the prospect of electing their own leaders and ending the long, bloody civil conflict.
Kofi Annan with DRC President Joseph Kabila (file photo)

Annan holds wide-ranging talks to cement transition to democracy in DR of Congo

22 March 2006
Secretary-General Kofi Annan conferred for the second day today with President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and held separate meetings with the four power-sharing Vice Presidents of the vast country, where the United Nations is heavily involved in cementing the transition from a bloody civil war to peace and democracy.
Kofi Annan

DR of Congo: Annan honours fallen peacekeepers, lauds UN role in coming vote

21 March 2006
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the United Nations is fielding one of its largest peacekeeping forces, with nearly 17,000 uniformed personnel, and helping to organize elections in the biggest and most expensive such operation it has ever undertaken.

Congolese national arrested for war crimes in first transfer to UN-backed court

17 March 2006
A Congolese national accused of conscripting child soldiers has become the first defendant arrested for trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC) established to ensure the prosecution of individuals committing war crimes, a United Nations spokesman said today.

DR of Congo: UN peacekeeping chief stresses importance of credible elections

13 March 2006
Continuing an official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the top United Nations peacekeeping official today stressed the need for credible national elections as the world body works to help the war-ravaged country prepare for the June polls.

DR of Congo: UN officials welcome election date, call for stability in the east

10 March 2006
As the United Nation’s envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today welcomed the setting of a date for the first-ever general election there, the top UN peacekeeping official met with leaders in the eastern part of the country on establishing stability in the region.

DR of Congo: UN-backed military operation succeeds in driving rebels from South Kivu

8 March 2006
Troops from the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), backed by hundreds of United Nations peacekeepers with armoured vehicle and helicopter support, have regained control of parts of the South Kivu region in the east of the strife-torn country that were occupied by rebels from neighbouring Rwanda.