United Nations Security Council Resolution 1279
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1279, adopted unanimously on November 30, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1234
(1999), 1258
(1999) and 1273
(1999) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Council established the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(MONUC) for an initial period until March 1, 2000.
The Security Council reaffirmed that the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
represented the most favourable basis for a resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There was concern about violations of the ceasefire
, the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the violation of international humanitarian
and human rights
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the east of the country.
All parties were called upon to end hostilities and fully implement the Ceasefire Agreement signed in Lusaka
. The Council stressed that there must be a dialogue where all Congolese were able to participate, organised by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
had appointed a Special Representative
to lead the United Nations presence in the subregion.
It was decided that MONUC would have the following tasks as part of its mandate
:
establish contact with the signatories to the Ceasefire Agreement; liaise with the Joint Military Commission, provide technical assistance and investigate ceasefire violations; provide information on security conditions; prepare for the observation of the ceasefire and disengagement of forces; maintain contacts with signatories of the Ceasefire Agreement, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid
and protect human rights.
Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to report on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo including conditions for the future deployment of United Nations personnel, and was requested to take immediate steps to equip 500 military observers for rapid deployments authorised by the Council.
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"....
1279, adopted unanimously on November 30, 1999, after recalling resolutions 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), 1258
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1258
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1258, adopted unanimously on August 6, 1999, after reaffirming Resolution 1234 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...
(1999) and 1273
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1273
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1273, adopted unanimously on November 5, 1999, after reaffirming resolutions 1234 and 1258 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the deployment of the 90 military liaison personnel as part of efforts to assist the...
(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 established the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO , is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279...
(MONUC) for an initial period until March 1, 2000.
The Security Council reaffirmed that 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...
represented the most favourable basis for a resolution of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There was concern about violations of the 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...
, the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the violation of international humanitarian
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the east of the country.
All parties were called upon to end hostilities and fully implement the Ceasefire Agreement signed in Lusaka
Lusaka
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...
. The Council stressed that there must be a dialogue where all Congolese were able to participate, organised by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). 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...
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 lead the United Nations presence in the subregion.
It was decided that MONUC would have the following tasks as part of its mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
:
establish contact with the signatories to the Ceasefire Agreement; liaise with the Joint Military Commission, provide technical assistance and investigate ceasefire violations; provide information on security conditions; prepare for the observation of the ceasefire and disengagement of forces; maintain contacts with signatories of the Ceasefire Agreement, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
and protect human rights.
Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to report on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo including conditions for the future deployment of United Nations personnel, and was requested to take immediate steps to equip 500 military observers for rapid deployments authorised by the Council.
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...