United Nations Security Council Resolution 1304
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1304, adopted unanimously on June 16, 2000, after recalling resolutions 1234
(1999), 1258
(1999), 1273
(1999), 1279
(1999), 1291
(1999) and 1296
(2000) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Council demanded the immediate withdrawal of Uganda
n, Rwanda
n, Congolese opposition and other armed groups from Kisangani
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The resolution primarily focused on fighting in the city of Kisangani in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, which had claimed up to 160 lives prior to the adoption of Resolution 1304.
s, which was being investigated by an expert panel. The Council was also concerned about the ongoing fighting in the country, particularly the renewed fighting between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani and their failure to comply with their obligations under the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
. It regretted the delay in implementing the agreement and the lack of co-operation by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
with mediation efforts. Furthermore, it was alarmed about the humanitarian situation in the country and its impact upon the civilian population, and violations of human rights
in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation in the country continued to constitute a threat to peace and security in the region.
, all parties were called upon to cease hostilities and respect the Ceasefire Agreement. The resolution condemned fighting between Rwanda, Uganda, Congolese opposition and other armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a gross violation of its sovereignty
and territorial integrity
. It further demanded that Rwanda and Uganda immediately withdraw; that it be reciprocated by other parties to the conflict; and activity by foreign forces immediately end. All offensive actions were prohibited during the process of disengagement and withdrawal of forces, in addition to co-operating with armed groups. No timetable for withdrawal was set. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to keep the arrangements for the deployment of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) under review.
The Council welcomed efforts by the parties to engage in a dialogue on disarmament
, demobilisation
, resettlement and reintegration of members of all armed groups. Meanwhile, it condemned all massacres carried out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law
and ensure access to humanitarian aid
agencies. It expressed the view that the governments of Rwanda and Uganda should make reparations for the loss of life and the property damage they had caused in Kisangani.
The resolution concluded by reaffirming the importance of holding a conference on peace and security in the Great Lakes region
under the auspicies of the United Nations and Organisation of African Unity, and expressed its intention to consider the imposition of measures if the parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not comply with the current resolution.
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"....
1304, adopted unanimously on June 16, 2000, 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), 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), 1279
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1279
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1279, adopted unanimously on November 30, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1234 , 1258 and 1273 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council established the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo for an initial...
(1999), 1291
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1291
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1291, adopted unanimously on February 24, 2000, after recalling resolutions 1234 , 1258 , 1273 and 1279 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council expanded the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo to include...
(1999) and 1296
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1296
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1296, adopted unanimously on April 19, 2000, after recalling Resolution 1265 , the Council discussed steps to enhance the protection of civilians during armed conflict.-Observations:...
(2000) 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 demanded the immediate withdrawal of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n, Congolese opposition and other armed groups from Kisangani
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The resolution primarily focused on fighting in the city of Kisangani in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, which had claimed up to 160 lives prior to the adoption of Resolution 1304.
Observations
There was concern about reports of illegal exploitation of the country's natural resourceNatural resource
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
s, which was being investigated by an expert panel. The Council was also concerned about the ongoing fighting in the country, particularly the renewed fighting between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani and their failure to comply with their obligations under 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...
. It regretted the delay in implementing the agreement and the lack of co-operation by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second institution in the central executive branch of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the first institution being the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who has the title of head of state.- Description :Under the...
with mediation efforts. Furthermore, it was alarmed about the humanitarian situation in the country and its impact upon the civilian population, and violations of 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 east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation in the country continued to constitute a threat to peace and security in the region.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, all parties were called upon to cease hostilities and respect the Ceasefire Agreement. The resolution condemned fighting between Rwanda, Uganda, Congolese opposition and other armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a gross violation of its sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
and territorial integrity
Territorial integrity
Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states...
. It further demanded that Rwanda and Uganda immediately withdraw; that it be reciprocated by other parties to the conflict; and activity by foreign forces immediately end. All offensive actions were prohibited during the process of disengagement and withdrawal of forces, in addition to co-operating with armed groups. No timetable for withdrawal was set. 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...
was requested to keep the arrangements for the deployment of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) under review.
The Council welcomed efforts by the parties to engage in a dialogue on disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
, demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
, resettlement and reintegration of members of all armed groups. Meanwhile, it condemned all massacres carried out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law
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 ensure access to 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...
agencies. It expressed the view that the governments of Rwanda and Uganda should make reparations for the loss of life and the property damage they had caused in Kisangani.
The resolution concluded by reaffirming the importance of holding a conference on peace and security in the Great Lakes region
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
under the auspicies of the United Nations and Organisation of African Unity, and expressed its intention to consider the imposition of measures if the parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not comply with the current resolution.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1301 to 1400 (2000 – 2002)
- 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...