United Nations Security Council Resolution 1341
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1341, adopted unanimously on February 22, 2001, after recalling resolutions 1234
(1999), 1258
(1999), 1265
(1999), 1273
(1999), 1279
(1999), 1291
(2000), 1296
(2000), 1304
(2000), 1323
(2000) and 1332
(2000) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Council demanded that all parties to the conflict in the country implement disengagement plans and adopt withdrawal plans for foreign troops by May 15, 2001.
s on the security situation and continuation of hostilities. The conflict had a severe impact on the civilian population and caused the number of refugee
s to increase. It was concerned at violations of human rights
particularly in the east of the country, violence against the population, the spread of HIV
/AIDS
among women and girls and the use of child soldiers
.
The Council stressed the importance of forwarding the peace process called for in the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
.
, the resolution noted that there was progress in respecting the ceasefire
and all parties were called upon to cease hostilities. It demanded that Rwanda
n and Uganda
n forces immediately withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for all parties to implement plans for disengagement and the redeployment of forces. Parties to the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement were urged to adopt plans for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and disarmament
, demobilisation
and reintegration, repatriation or resettlement of armed groups by May 15, 2001, and to refrain from any military action during this process.
All massacres committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were condemned and an end to the practice of recruiting child soldiers was called for. The concerned parties were urged to respect human rights, ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian relief
organisations and guarantee their freedom of movement
. The Council recalled the Fourth Geneva Convention
regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict with respect to occupying forces.
The resolution called for all parties to co-operate with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to further develop the dialogue between the parties. It reaffirmed the expansion and redeployment of the MONUC operation and emphasised a further review would be considered to monitor the withdrawal of foreign troops, the implementation of the aforementioned plans and enhance security of the border areas with Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi
. The Council would support the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
if he decided to deploy troops in the border areas, particularly Goma
and Bukavu
.
The Council welcomed the commitment of the government of Joseph Kabila
to resume inter-Congolese dialogue, dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi and recent meetings between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting that the disarmament of the former Rwandan Armed Forces and Interahamwe
would facilitate the settlement of the conflict. It was important that the illegal exploitation of the natural resources was ended. Further measures would be considered and a mission to the region was to take place, possibly in May 2001.
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"....
1341, adopted unanimously on February 22, 2001, 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), 1265
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265, adopted unanimously on September 17, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council discussed the protection of civilians during armed conflict.-Observations:...
(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...
(2000), 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), 1304
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1304
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1304, adopted unanimously on June 16, 2000, after recalling resolutions 1234 , 1258 , 1273 , 1279 , 1291 and 1296 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council demanded the immediate withdrawal of Ugandan, Rwandan, Congolese...
(2000), 1323
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1323
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1323, adopted unanimously on October 13, 2000, after recalling resolutions 1291 , 1304 and 1316 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo ...
(2000) and 1332
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1332
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1332, adopted unanimously on December 14, 2000, after recalling resolutions 1234 , 1258 , 1265 , 1273 , 1279 , 1291 , 1296 , 1304 and 1323 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations...
(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 that all parties to the conflict in the country implement disengagement plans and adopt withdrawal plans for foreign troops by May 15, 2001.
Observations
In the preamble of Resolution 1341, the Security Council expressed concern about the consequences of the illegal exploitation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo'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 on the security situation and continuation of hostilities. The conflict had a severe impact on the civilian population and caused the number of refugee
Refugee
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 to increase. It was concerned at 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...
particularly in the east of the country, violence against the population, the spread of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
among women and girls and the use of child soldiers
Military use of children
The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities , or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in...
.
The Council stressed the importance of forwarding the peace process called for in 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...
.
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...
, the resolution noted that there was progress in respecting 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...
and all parties were called upon to cease hostilities. It demanded that 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 and 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 forces immediately withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for all parties to implement plans for disengagement and the redeployment of forces. Parties to the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement were urged to adopt plans for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and 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...
and reintegration, repatriation or resettlement of armed groups by May 15, 2001, and to refrain from any military action during this process.
All massacres committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were condemned and an end to the practice of recruiting child soldiers was called for. The concerned parties were urged to respect human rights, ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian relief
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...
organisations and guarantee their 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...
. The Council recalled the Fourth Geneva Convention
Fourth Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention and abbreviated as GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was adopted in August 1949, and defines humanitarian protections for civilians...
regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict with respect to occupying forces.
The resolution called for all parties to co-operate with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to further develop the dialogue between the parties. It reaffirmed the expansion and redeployment of the MONUC operation and emphasised a further review would be considered to monitor the withdrawal of foreign troops, the implementation of the aforementioned plans and enhance security of the border areas with Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
. The Council would support 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...
if he decided to deploy troops in the border areas, particularly Goma
Goma
Goma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
and Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
.
The Council welcomed the commitment of the government of Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
to resume inter-Congolese dialogue, dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi and recent meetings between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting that the disarmament of the former Rwandan Armed Forces and Interahamwe
Interahamwe
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization. The militia enjoyed the backing of the Hutu-led government leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Since the genocide, they have been forced out of Rwanda, and have sought asylum in Congo...
would facilitate the settlement of the conflict. It was important that the illegal exploitation of the natural resources was ended. Further measures would be considered and a mission to the region was to take place, possibly in May 2001.
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...