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Congo (Kinshasa): Peace & Transition
AfricaFocus Bulletin
Jan 11, 2004 (040111)
(Reposted from sources cited below)
Editor's Note
"While significant progress has been achieved in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo ... the tangible benefits of peace have not
yet filtered down to the war-weary Congolese population.
Socioeconomic conditions remain dire throughout the country ... A
key condition for success in national reconciliation will be a true
partnership between the former belligerents in managing the
transition."
This summary from the latest UN report on the peace process in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) highlights both the hopes
and fears characterizing African conflicts at the beginning of
2004. Commentators write of peace breaking out around the
continent, citing the virtual absence of open conflict as compared
to a year or two years ago. Yet as this case illustrates, the
achievements are both incomplete and fragile.
Continued progress depends both on additional internal commitment
and on international support, which presently falls short.
International media attention is minimal. Thus a year-end review
of US network television news coverage in ADT Research's Tyndall
Report found Iraq-related stories accounting for 30 percent of all
coverage, with a total of 4,047 minutes. The highest-profile
African story was Liberia, with 72 minutes for the year, followed
by AIDS, with 39 minutes, and Bush's Africa trip, with 18 minutes.
The DRC received a total of 5 minutes of coverage during the year.
This issue of AfricaFocus Bulletin contains excerpts from two
recent reports from the UN's Integrated Regional Information
Networks (IRIN) and from the Secretary-General's November report to
the Security Council.
For ongoing coverage of developments in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, an excellent source, in English as well as French, is the UN
Mission's website in Kinshasa (http://www.monuc.org). In addition
to reviews of the Congolese press and mission updates, this also
includes audio from Radio Okapi, a UN-sponsored radio station that
has stations and correspondents around the country. Another rich
source is http://www.digitalcongo.net.
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Prospects For Peace Increase as Region Moves Into 2004
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
http://www.irinnews.org
January 9, 2004
Nairobi
The year 2004 is set to be a momentous one in the Great Lakes
region in terms of its peace prospects, if the achievements made in
2003 are anything to go by.
Across the region - right from Burundi, the Central African
Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to
Rwanda - the code words in 2003 seemed to have been transition to
peace. ...
DRC
The determination to move from years of turmoil to peace and
democracy is most obvious in the DRC, the largest country in the
region and the third-largest in Africa, where President Joseph
Kabila is reported to be committed to sticking to the transitional
government timetable to hold democratic elections in 2005.
Kabila's spokesman, Mulegwa Zihindula, told journalists on 8
January 2004 in the capital, Kinshasa, that the president was
committed to organising elections on time and that he felt the move
would greatly contribute to the building of a strong DRC.
News reports following Zihindula's announcement indicated that
South African President Thabo Mbeki was due to start an official
visit to the country on 9 January, a sign that the DRC is keen on
resuming normal bilateral relations with other African states.
Under an agreement signed in April 2003 in Pretoria, South Africa,
a power-sharing transitional government of national unity was
installed in DRC in June, with Kabila and leaders of former rebel
movements setting up government institutions that had been
devastated by more than six years of civil war.
However, all is not smooth sailing, inasmuch as restoring order in
such a vast country has proved to be a rather slow process. The
eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, and Ituri District in
Orientale Province in the northeast are still experiencing sporadic
fighting, with Ituri largely remaining under the control of rival
militias, although a strengthened UN peacekeeping force is
gradually restoring security there.
Moreover, the transitional government has yet to establish an
independent electoral commission to oversee the elections scheduled
to be held 24 months after the government's installation. Although
the new parliament in December approved a law providing for the
setting up of such a body, it has yet to be acted on.
The government is also struggling with establishing proper control
of areas previously under rebel administration, while civilians in
many parts of the country still face hardships such as shortages of
food, water and other basic needs. Poverty levels remain low, with
most Congolese said to be living on less than US $1 daily.
[for sections on Burundi, Central African Republic, Rwanda, and the
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), see full report at
http://www.irinnews.org/S_report.asp?ReportID=38831]
DRC: Continuing Concern Over Delays in Transitional Period
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
http://www.irinnews.org
January 9, 2004
Kinshasa
A committee overseeing the two-year transitional process in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has again expressed concern
about continuing delays on the part of the country's national unity
government in adopting key legislation for the transitional period
intended to culminate in national democratic elections.
The International Committee to Accompany the Transition comprising
foreign ambassadors to the DRC and chaired by the UN Mission in the
country, known as MONUC, made their concerns known in a statement
issued on Thursday.
In an effort to make up for lost time, the DRC's two chambers of
parliament - the Senate and the National Assembly, which had just
ended their ordinary session on Monday - have been reconvened.
"We are fearful that if things do not get done quickly, we will not
only not meet the two-year deadline set by the constitution for the
organisation of elections but also go beyond the six-month
supplementary period that has been provided," Pastor Kuye Ndondo,
the president of the truth and reconciliation commission, one of
five institutions meant to facilitate the transitional period, told
IRIN.
Under the DRC's transitional constitution, the national unity
government has from 24 to 30 months to organise national elections.
However, none of the five institutions - the truth and
reconciliation commission; a national human rights observatory; a
high authority for media; a national electoral commission; and a
commission for ethics and the fight against corruption, as called
for by the inter-Congolese dialogue - is yet fully functional,
despite the transitional period having begun with the installation
of a national government on 30 June 2003.
Furthermore, the proposed members of the five institutions have
only recently been presented to the two chambers of parliament,
which have not yet adopted laws on how the five institutions will
function. "We do not understand why the parliament is blocking us
with the non-adoption of all of these laws," Kuye said.
"This delay is unjustified. We think that those who control
parliament [former government, former rebels, political opposition
parties, Mayi-Mayi militias, civil society organisations] are
impeding the process in an effort to keep themselves in power
during the long transitional period," Nsii Luanda, the coordinator
of national human rights NGO, Comite des observateurs des droits de
l'homme, told IRIN.
[See earlier story, "Oversight committee chides transitional
government for delays", at
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=37352]
United Nations Security Council S/2003/1098
Fourteenth Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations
Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
17 November 2003
[Excerpts: full report available online in PDF format through
http://www.un.org/documents]
VIII. Observations
62. While significant progress has been achieved in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo over the past five months, considerable work
still remains to be done on a number of key issues of the peace
process, in order to solidify it and ensure that it is
irreversible, On the positive side, former belligerents are working
together in the Transitional Government, the process of uniting
the territory of the formerly divided country has begun, and there
are encouraging trends in peacemaking at the local level.
Moreover, MONUC [United Nations Organization Mission in the DRC]
and the wider international community are prepared to assist in
strengthening the peace process through free and fair
elections. All of these developments contribute to encourage and
give hope to the Congolese people, who have suffered from the
scourge of war for so long.
63.Also significant is the recent improvement in relations between
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, as witnessed by
the visit to Kinshasa of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Rwanda, the first such visit of a senior Rwandan official in five
years, and the visit to Kigali of the Minister for Regional
Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I also
welcome the decision by the Governments of Uganda and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo to reopen their embassies and
resume talks at the senior level. I urge the Governments of the
region to capitalize on the goodwill generated by the high-level
meeting I convened in New York on 25 September, and continue to
follow up with concrete steps to address bilateral and
multilateral issues of mutual concern. To that end, MONUC will
continue to actively encourage the States of the region to take
the action necessary to build mutual trust and good-neighborly
relations. Building on progress in this area, MONUC and the wider
United Nations community stand ready to assist the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and its neighbors in promoting subregional
cooperation, including through the combined efforts associated
with the planned international conference for the Great Lakes
region, as well as organizations such as the Southern African
Development Community and the Communaut� �conomique des pays des
Grands Lacs.
64. I particularly appreciate the role played by South Africa,
including the personal interest shown by President Thabo Mbeki, in
collaborating closely with MONUC within the framework of the Third
Party Verification Mechanism to help the parties implement the
provisions of the Pretoria Agreement. It is a significant
achievement of the Verification Mechanism that the parties have now
agreed to pursue the remaining issues of the Agreement on a
bilateral basis, with the assistance of MONUC where needed.
65. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain. Chief among these
is the continuing presence of foreign armed combatants in the
eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which affects the overall
security situation in that part of the country. The recent
agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
to establish a joint mechanism with MONUC to address the
disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement or
reintegration of Rwandan combatants is a step in the right
direction. Another key issue is the continuing allegations of the
presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Rwandan
military personnel. While MONUC has received assurances from the
Government of Rwanda that this is not the case, some MONUC
investigations of such allegations have been impeded recently by
RCD-Goma military personnel. I call on all parties concerned to
fully support MONUC investigations of such allegations and provide
full freedom of movement for its military observers.
66. The disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement or
reintegration of Rwanda combatants, and the disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration of Congolese combatants, are
intricately linked to local-level political and economic dynamics
in the eastern part of the country. By undertaking local conflict
resolution initiatives, MONUC is addressing the heart of the
matter, as well as the broader issues of land, resources,
nationality and trans-border cooperation. It is imperative that the
Transitional Government extend State administration throughout the
eastern part of the country, that real progress be made in the
integration of the armed forces at the provincial level, and that
the Transitional Government take up the challenge of extending
political and economic benefits to the population in that part of
the country, especially North and South Kivu.
67. The situation in Ituri has been of particular concern. I am
especially grateful to the Government of France, and to the
European Union, for responding rapidly to my request of 15 May to
deploy a multinational force for a limited period of time. It is
undeniable that the presence of a robustly equipped force in Bunia,
under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, helped to
stave off an impending humanitarian crisis. Moreover, the
deployment demonstrated the benefits of the international community
working collectively and creatively in matters of peace and
security. 68. Despite significant challenges, the efforts of
MONUC and other international partners in stabilizing the
situation in Ituri arc having results. The effective handover of
military tasks from the Interim Emergency Multinational Force to
MONUC and the rapid deployment of four MONUC battalions and various
support elements in a short period of time, as well as the
subsequent expanded deployment to areas outside Bunia, have been
major accomplishments. I thank the troop-contributing countries for
their cooperation, in particular the Government of Uruguay, for
agreeing to station a battalion in Bunia at the height of the
crisis there. Nonetheless, in view of the grim humanitarian and
human rights situation continuing to prevail in Ituri, the
military deployment of MONUC must be accompanied by a sustained
political, humanitarian and civil effort by the international
community.
69. In spite of the progress made against difficult odds, the
tangible benefits of peace have not yet filtered down to the
war-weary Congolese population. Socioeconomic conditions remain
dire throughout the country, and gross human rights violations,
including widespread sexual violence, continue to be perpetrated.
Despite the strenuous efforts of the international community, the
humanitarian situation is catastrophic. Much more work and
substantial funding is required to ensure the implementation of the
Transitional Government's road map for economic and social
reunification and reconstruction, as well as the effective
extension of its authority throughout the country.
70. While the elections planned for mid-2005 will be vital to
setting down concrete foundations for a new, democratic and
peaceful order in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it would be
premature to begin active campaigning. The Congolese people have
suffered for long and expect much of their leaders during the
crucial two-year transitional period. A key condition for success
in national reconciliation will be a true partnership between the
former belligerents in managing the transition. I call on them to
act collectively, in order to solidify the peace. They are also
urged to redouble their efforts to take the necessary legal steps
to establish the Integrated Police Unit and an integrated national
police force; to finalize the process of appointing provincial
governors and their deputies; to prepare a law on the army and
defence policy; to elaborate and implement a comprehensive
programme for the formation of an integrated national army; to
establish a coordination body to elaborate and implement a national
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme; and to
take concrete measures to accelerate the process of the
disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement or
reintegration in collaboration with MONUC and neighbouring
countries.
71. A key concern during the conflict in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo has been the incessant flow of arms into the country, and
its link to the illegal exploitation of natural resources. The arms
transfers have contributed to the ongoing violence, especially in
the east of the country, while the illegal exploitation of
resources has robbed the Congolese people of their national wealth.
72. Under resolution 1493 (2003), the Security Council established
an arms embargo on the Kivus and Ituri, and expressed its
determination to consider necessary steps to ensure the effective
monitoring and implementation of those measures, including the
possible establishment of a monitoring mechanism. The Council also
called on MONUC to step up is efforts in monitoring the arms
embargo. I would like to propose that the Council consider a
three-tiered approach to addressing the issue. Under the first
tier, MONUC would continue to carry out its monitoring mandate,
collecting and categorizing information in accordance with the
means made available to it. Under the second tier, a small group
of three to four technical experts would be formed to collect and
conduct preliminary investigations of information both within the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and in other countries as
necessary. The group of experts would report to a third tier, a
sanctions committee, which in turn would report and make
recommendations to the Security Council and address the issue at
the political level with Member States. Those reports would be
independent of my regular progress reports on MONUC to the
Council.
73. As the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural
Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo has completed its work, it would also be important to
keep the spotlight on that important issue, and to encourage the
Transitional Government to adopt the necessary laws to ensure the
fair and equitable management of natural resources and help the
international community to regulate its involvement in this vital
sector. My Special Representative is considering the best way in
which the United Nations system can address the matter, taking into
account the economic and social mandates of the United Nations
agencies and programmes, and I shall revert to the Security
Council on this matter in my next progress report.
74. In closing, 1 wish to express my appreciation to my Special
Representative, William Lacy Swing, and to all the men and women
of MONUC for their outstanding efforts to support the peace
process, despite the very challenging and often dangerous
circumstances still prevailing in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
AfricaFocus Bulletin is a free independent electronic publication
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a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus
Bulletin is edited by William Minter.
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