United Nations Security Council Resolution 1258
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1258, adopted unanimously on August 6, 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 1234
(1999) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Council authorised the deployment of military liaison personnel to the capitals of the signatories of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
.
s and displaced persons could return home safely. The current situation necessitated an urgent response from the parties of the conflict with the support of the international community
.
as a basis for a resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also welcomed a ceasefire
agreement by the Movement for the Liberation of Congo
but was concerned that the Congolese Rally for Democracy had not yet signed the agreement. Furthermore, despite its signing, fighting was still occurring. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Southern African Development Community
(SADC) were commended for their efforts. All parties and rebel groups in particular were called upon to stop the fighting and implement the Ceasefire Agreement.
The Security Council authorised the deployment of 90 United Nations military liaison officers to the capitals of the countries that signed the Ceasefire Agreement, the rear headquarters of the main belligerents in the conflict and to the provisional headquarters of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) that was established as part of efforts to implement the agreement. It was decided that the liaison officers would have the following mandate for the next three months:
establish contacts with the JMC and signatorise to the Ceasefire Agreement; develop modalities for implementing the Ceasefire Agreement; provide technical assistance to the JMC; provide information to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
regarding the situation on the ground and on a future United Nations presence in the country; secure guarantees of security and co-operation from the Congolese parties.
The Secretary-General had appointed a Special Representative
to head the operation. All parties were urged to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement
for United Nations and humanitarian personnel and the Secretary-General was requested to keep the Council regularly informed on developments in the region.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1258, adopted unanimously on August 6, 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 1234
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1234
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1234, adopted unanimously on April 9, 1999, after expressing concern at the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council demanded an immediate halt to hostilities in the region, a withdrawal of foreign forces and the re-establishment of...
(1999) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, the Council authorised the deployment of military liaison personnel to the capitals of the signatories of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement attempted to end the Second Congo War through a ceasefire, release of prisoners of war, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force under the auspices of the United Nations...
.
Observations
The Security Council was determined to resolve the serious humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure that all refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s and displaced persons could return home safely. The current situation necessitated an urgent response from the parties of the conflict with the support of the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
.
Acts
The resolution welcomed the signing of the agreement in LusakaLusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
as a basis for a resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also welcomed a ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
agreement by the Movement for the Liberation of Congo
Movement for the Liberation of Congo
The Movement for the Liberation of the Congo is a political party in Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was a rebel group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo that fought the government throughout the Second Congo War. It subsequently took part in the transitional government and is now...
but was concerned that the Congolese Rally for Democracy had not yet signed the agreement. Furthermore, despite its signing, fighting was still occurring. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Southern African Development Community
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
(SADC) were commended for their efforts. All parties and rebel groups in particular were called upon to stop the fighting and implement the Ceasefire Agreement.
The Security Council authorised the deployment of 90 United Nations military liaison officers to the capitals of the countries that signed the Ceasefire Agreement, the rear headquarters of the main belligerents in the conflict and to the provisional headquarters of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) that was established as part of efforts to implement the agreement. It was decided that the liaison officers would have the following mandate for the next three months:
establish contacts with the JMC and signatorise to the Ceasefire Agreement; develop modalities for implementing the Ceasefire Agreement; provide technical assistance to the JMC; provide information to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
regarding the situation on the ground and on a future United Nations presence in the country; secure guarantees of security and co-operation from the Congolese parties.
The Secretary-General had appointed a Special Representative
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
to head the operation. All parties were urged to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
for United Nations and humanitarian personnel and the Secretary-General was requested to keep the Council regularly informed on developments in the region.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- Second Congo WarSecond Congo WarThe Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...