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Background
On 10 July 1999 in Lusaka, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along with Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe signed the Ceasefire Agreement for a cessation of hostilities between all belligerent forces in DRC. The Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, one of two Congolese rebel movements, signed the Agreement on 1 August.
The Agreement included provisions on the normalization of the situation along the DRC border; the control of illicit trafficking of arms and the infiltration of armed groups; the holding of a national dialogue; the need to address security concerns; and the establishment of a mechanism for disarming militias and armed groups. It also provided for a Joint Military Commission (JMC) composed of two representatives from each party under a neutral Chairman appointed by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and proposed an "appropriate force" to be constituted, facilitated and deployed by the United Nations in collaboration with OAU.
On 6 August, Security Council welcomed the agreement and urged the second rebel group, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) to sign as well. On the same occasion, the Council commended OAU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the United Nations Secretary-General for their efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
The Security Council had previously expressed its deep concern in August 1998, after tensions in the region had broken into the open. At that time, the Council noted that the conflict constituted a threat to regional peace and security. It reaffirmed the need for all States to refrain from interference in each other's internal affairs and called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign forces. The Council noted the need for national reconciliation respectful of the equality and harmony of all ethnic groups and leading to democratic elections.
In a further statement, in December 1998, the Council reaffirmed the obligation to respect the territorial integrity of DRC. It also indicated that it was prepared to consider the active involvement of the United Nations, in coordination with OAU, to help implement a ceasefire and an agreed process for a political settlement.
In April 1999, to further demonstrate his commitment to regional peace efforts, the Secretary-General appointed Moustapha Niasse (Senegal) as his Special Envoy for the DRC peace process, to be assisted by the Secretary-General's Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Berhanu Dinka, who had been appointed in December 1997. The Council welcomed the appointment of the Special Envoy in its resolution 1234 of 9 April 1999 and requested the Secretary-General to make recommendations on the role of the United Nations in the peace process.
In the same resolution, the Council, among other things, deplored the presence of forces of foreign States in DRC "in a manner inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations", and called on those States to end the presence of the uninvited forces. In June, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the territorial integrity and political independence of all States in the region and called upon all parties to participate with a constructive and flexible spirit in the upcoming Lusaka summit.
Based on the Secretary-General's recommendations in his report dated 15 July 1999, the Security Council, by its resolution 1258 of 6 August 1999, authorized the deployment of up to 90 United Nations military liaison personnel, along with necessary civilian staff, to the capitals of the signatory States, to JMC provisional headquarters, to the rear military headquarters of the main belligerents in DRC as conditions permitted, and to other areas deemed necessary by the Secretary-General. Deployment began once RCD had signed the Lusaka Agreement on 31 August.
On 1 November 1999, the Secretary-General recommended an extension of the mandate. Although the survey team dispatched to the region had been unable to carry out the required reconnaissance visits, the Secretary-General sought prior authorization for the establishment of MONUC and the deployment of up to 500 military observers, provided the necessary military conditions were met. On 13 November, he appointed Kamel Morjane (Tunisia) as his Special Representative for DRC.
The Security Council, by its resolution 1279 of 30 November 1999, decided that the previously authorized personnel would constitute MONUC and expressed its intention to take a decision on further deployment on the basis of recommendations by the Secretary-General. It requested the Secretary-General to accelerate the development of a concept of operations based on assessed conditions of security, access and freedom of movement, and cooperation on the part of the signatories to the Agreement.
On 24 February 2000, the Security Council, by its resolution 1291 authorized the expansion of the Mission to consist of up to 5,537 military personnel, including up to 500 observers, or more, provided that the Secretary-General determined that there was a need and it could be accommodate within the overall force size and structure, and appropriate civilian support staff in the areas, inter alia, of human rights, humanitarian affairs, public information, child protection, political affairs, medical support and administrative support. The Council also requested the Secretary-General to recommend any additional force requirements that might become necessary to enhance force protection.
Sudan's peace under threat
The chief negotiator of the Sudan peace process has described talks in Kenya between rebel leader John Garang and the Sudanese vice president Ali Osman Taha as a make or break time.
General Lazarus Sumbeiywo is the widely respected Kenyan negotiator who has been steering Sudan's warring sides along the rocky path to peace.
But he describes the summit in the Rift Valley town of Naivasha as "the end of the game".
Rebel leader John Garang and Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha have to reach agreement.
If they do not, he predicts a new outbreak of war.
He said a failure would mean the two sides were simply not ready to settle for peace.
'Hopeful'
General Sumbeiywo would not be drawn on the prospects for a breakthrough, but he described the atmosphere in the talks as hopeful.
The issues under discussion are the most fundamental and the most difficult to solve.
They include power-sharing, wealth-sharing, especially of Sudan's oil resources and the composition of a national army during a transitional period.
Sudan's war between the mainly Christian south and the Islamic north has lasted two decades and led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of ordinary civilians.
Previous peace deals have been signed, only to fall apart later.
The goal in Naivasha is to thrash out a formula for lasting peace, to
bring an end to Sudan's long war.
Also see:
Timeline and History of the Region
Central
African Subregional Development Centre
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