Tuesday
Nov182008
UN sets up "zones of separation" in the DRC
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 12:47PM
Alan Doss, Special Representative to the UN in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), briefed reporters via telelink from Kinshasha, DRC. He explained the main focus for the UN mission now is to provide support to the President by working to stabilize conflict areas. A number of convoys have successfully been able to get to parts of the country that had been deeply affected by the fighting. Rebel groups have agreed to a ceasefire in partial areas (termed "zones of separation," in the north of Goma) to allow MONUC (United Nations Mission in the Congo) to care for the internally displaced. In many areas, the national armed forces have disintegrated.
Doss said there is ongoing discussion between governments in Rwanda and Congo and he hopes the political and diplomatic process can produce lasting peace. The Security Council will tomorrow be asked to give its support for 3,000 additional peacekeeping troops. If the Council approves, Doss estimates troops will be provided in the next several months. Doss indicated there are some discussions that the CNDP (Congress in the Defence of the People) and government may meet in Nairobi in the coming months to discuss a way forward.
Doss was asked whether he wanted to see more troops on the ground and if a mandate were moved toward peace enforcement, but the Security Council has yet to approve. There are 6,000 troops in North Kivu where fighting is the most active. Doss could not confirm whether Angolan and Rwandan troops were in fact in the DRC. Doss said: "The Angolan government does not have the immediate intention to send troops regardless of what is being reported in the international media." There are continuous media reports of Portuguese speaking troops in the conflict zones.
Pakistan is intending to stay on to support peace-building during the coming months until more troops are secured. A team of conflict experts is currently being assembled.
Doss said there is ongoing discussion between governments in Rwanda and Congo and he hopes the political and diplomatic process can produce lasting peace. The Security Council will tomorrow be asked to give its support for 3,000 additional peacekeeping troops. If the Council approves, Doss estimates troops will be provided in the next several months. Doss indicated there are some discussions that the CNDP (Congress in the Defence of the People) and government may meet in Nairobi in the coming months to discuss a way forward.
Doss was asked whether he wanted to see more troops on the ground and if a mandate were moved toward peace enforcement, but the Security Council has yet to approve. There are 6,000 troops in North Kivu where fighting is the most active. Doss could not confirm whether Angolan and Rwandan troops were in fact in the DRC. Doss said: "The Angolan government does not have the immediate intention to send troops regardless of what is being reported in the international media." There are continuous media reports of Portuguese speaking troops in the conflict zones.
Pakistan is intending to stay on to support peace-building during the coming months until more troops are secured. A team of conflict experts is currently being assembled.
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