United Nations Security Council Resolution 1355
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1355, adopted unanimously on June 15, 2001, after recalling resolutions 1234
(1999), 1258
(1999), 1265
(1999), 1273
(1999), 1279
(1999), 1291
(2000), 1296
(2000), 1304
(2000), 1323
(2000), 1332
(2000) and 1341
(2001) 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
(MONUC) until June 15, 2002 subject to review every four months.
against the population, particularly in the east of the country. There was also concern at the use of child soldiers
. It also reaffirmed the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
and other redeployment and disengagement plans. It concluded by determining that the situation in the region constituted a threat to international peace and security in the region.
, the Council expressed satisfaction that there was general observance of the ceasefire
. It demanded that the Front de Libération du Congo disengage and redeploy in accordance with previously agreed plans and commitments made to the Security Council mission that visited the region. The Council again demanded that Uganda
n, Rwanda
n and other foreign forces immediately withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There was concern that military operations had taken place in the Kivu
s and the Rally for Congolese Democracy
was urged to demilitarise
Kisangani
. All parties, including the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, had to cease support for armed groups. Meanwhile, incursions by armed groups into Rwanda and Burundi
were condemned.
The Security Council, highlighting diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, welcomed dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi and stressed that peace in the former should not be achieved at the expense of peace in the latter. Dialogue among Congolese parties was also welcomed. It condemned massacres, the use of child soldiers and attacks on humanitarian personnel and reminded parties of their obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention
. The international community
was called upon to increase humanitarian aid
to the region.
The resolution stressed that the illegal exploitation of the country's natural resource
s had to end and it awaited a report from a panel established to investigate the matter. It stressed the importance of the link between progress in the peace process and economic recovery and welcomed the re-opening of the Congo
and Ubangi River
s and the establishment of the Congo River Basin Commission to address river traffic. The Council noted that peace would only be achieved if all countries in the region defined rules to promote security and development.
and requested the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to make recommendations on ways MONUC could monitor the implementation of withdrawal plans. It authorised the MONUC mission to assist in the disarmament
, demobilisation
, rehabilitation and reintegration process involving armed groups. The Secretary-General was further requested to expand the civilian component of
MONUC, particularly in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law
.
The resolution approved the Secretary-General's revised concept of operations for MONUC, which included the creation of a civilian police component. It noted the need to improve the public information capacity through the establishment of United Nations radio stations. Finally, the parties were called upon to co-operate fully with the UNMOC mission and ensure the safety of United Nations personnel.
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"....
1355, adopted unanimously on June 15, 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), 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) and 1341
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1341
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1341, adopted unanimously on February 22, 2001, after recalling resolutions 1234 , 1258 , 1265 , 1273 , 1279 , 1291 , 1296 , 1304 , 1323 and 1332 on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council demanded that all parties to the conflict...
(2001) 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 extended the mandate of 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) until June 15, 2002 subject to review every four months.
Observations
The preamble of the resolution expressed concern at the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and at all violations of human rightsHuman 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...
against the population, particularly in the east of the country. There was also concern at 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...
. It also reaffirmed 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...
and other redeployment and disengagement plans. It concluded by determining that the situation in the region constituted a threat to international peace and security in the region.
A
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 Council expressed satisfaction that there was general observance 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...
. It demanded that the Front de Libération du Congo disengage and redeploy in accordance with previously agreed plans and commitments made to the Security Council mission that visited the region. The Council again demanded that 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 and other foreign forces immediately withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There was concern that military operations had taken place in the Kivu
Kivu
Kivu was the name for a large "Region" in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko that bordered Lake Kivu. It included three "Sub-Regions" : Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Maniema, corresponding to the three current provinces created in 1986...
s and the Rally for Congolese Democracy
Rally for Congolese Democracy
The Congolese Rally for Democracy, sometimes Rally for Congolese Democracy, was a rebel group operating in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo . Assisted by the government of Rwanda, it was a major factor in the Second Congo War . It became a political party in 2003...
was urged to demilitarise
Demilitarisation
Demilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles to an agreed minimum. Demilitarisation is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict....
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....
. All parties, including 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...
, had to cease support for armed groups. Meanwhile, incursions by armed groups into Rwanda 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...
were condemned.
The Security Council, highlighting diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, welcomed dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi and stressed that peace in the former should not be achieved at the expense of peace in the latter. Dialogue among Congolese parties was also welcomed. It condemned massacres, the use of child soldiers and attacks on humanitarian personnel and reminded parties of their obligations under 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...
. 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...
was called upon to increase 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...
to the region.
The resolution stressed that the illegal exploitation of the country's natural resource
Natural 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 had to end and it awaited a report from a panel established to investigate the matter. It stressed the importance of the link between progress in the peace process and economic recovery and welcomed the re-opening of the Congo
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
and Ubangi River
Ubangi River
The Ubangi River , also spelled Oubangui, is the largest right-bank tributary of the Congo River of Central Africa. It begins at the confluence of the Mbomou and Uele Rivers and flows west, then bends to the southwest and passes through Bangui, after which it flows south to the Congo at Liranga....
s and the establishment of the Congo River Basin Commission to address river traffic. The Council noted that peace would only be achieved if all countries in the region defined rules to promote security and development.
B
The Security Council extended MONUC's mandateMandate (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....
and requested 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...
to make recommendations on ways MONUC could monitor the implementation of withdrawal plans. It authorised the MONUC mission to assist in the 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...
, rehabilitation and reintegration process involving armed groups. The Secretary-General was further requested to expand the civilian component of
MONUC, particularly in the area of human rights and 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...
.
The resolution approved the Secretary-General's revised concept of operations for MONUC, which included the creation of a civilian police component. It noted the need to improve the public information capacity through the establishment of United Nations radio stations. Finally, the parties were called upon to co-operate fully with the UNMOC mission and ensure the safety of United Nations personnel.
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...