United Nations Security Council Resolution 1445
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1445, adopted unanimously on December 4, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Council expanded the military component of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(MONUC) to a level of 8,700 military personnel–up from 4,250–in two task forces.
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was concerned that the authorised number of troops could not be provided. Meanwhile, the United States
had attempted to introduce language into the resolution that would have prevented American peacekeepers
(of which there were none in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from indiction by the International Criminal Court
, though other Council members objected to its inclusion and the United States withdrew its demand.
of another state. It reaffirmed the sovereignty
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo over its natural resource
s. Furthermore, the Council recognised the need for a gender perspective in accordance with Resolution 1325 (2000) and protection of children in accordance with Resolution 1379
(2001). It determined that the situation constituted a threat to international peace and security.
between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
and that of the Luanda Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
were welcomed by the Council. Meanwhile, the decision of Angola
, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe
to fully withdraw their troops was also welcomed. It stressed the importance of the voluntary disarmament
, demobilisation
, repatriation
, reintegration and resettlement (DDRRR) programme and for all armed groups to participate in the process.
The Council welcomed the repatriation of ex-combatants from Kamina
and the banning of activities of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
by the Congolese government
throughout its territory. There were positive developments on the ground and there was a commitment among Congolese parties to achieve an inclusive political transition. In this regard, the resolution authorised an expansion of MONUC of up to 8,700 military personnel in two task forces; the second force would be deployed once the DDR caseload could not be met by the existing capacity of the first task force.
The resolution emphasised that the main responsibility for a settlement of the conflict rested with the parties themselves, and in this regard, called for:
There was concern at the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Ituri Province where there was an increase in ethnic violence
. The Council called for full access by humanitarian organisations to populations in need. It reiterated that there should be no support for groups fighting in the east of the country, calling on MONUC to continue assessing police training and capabilities particularly in the Itrui region.
The concluding paragraphs of the resolution encouraged the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and the importance of preventing the spread of the conflict to nearby states including Burundi
, the Central African Republic
, Rwanda and Uganda. Finally, the harassment of Radio Okapi
staff was condemned and the convening a conference on peace, security, democracy and development in the African Great Lakes
region was called for.
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"....
1445, adopted unanimously on December 4, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions 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 expanded the military component 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) to a level of 8,700 military personnel–up from 4,250–in two task forces.
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 concerned that the authorised number of troops could not be provided. Meanwhile, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had attempted to introduce language into the resolution that would have prevented American peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
(of which there were none in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from indiction by the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
, though other Council members objected to its inclusion and the United States withdrew its demand.
Observations
The Security Council stressed the obligation of all states to refrain from using force against the independence and territorial integrityTerritorial 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...
of another state. It reaffirmed the 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...
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo over its 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. Furthermore, the Council recognised the need for a gender perspective in accordance with Resolution 1325 (2000) and protection of children in accordance with Resolution 1379
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379, adopted unanimously on November 20, 2001, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1265 , 1296 , 1306 , 1308 , 1314 and 1325 , the Council considered provisions to protect children during peacekeeping operations and requested the Secretary-General to...
(2001). It determined that the situation constituted a threat to international peace and security.
Acts
The signing of the Pretoria AccordPretoria Accord
The Pretoria Accord was a July 2002 agreement made between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an effort to bring about an end to the Second Congo War...
between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 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...
and that of the Luanda Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo 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...
were welcomed by the Council. Meanwhile, the decision of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
to fully withdraw their troops was also welcomed. It stressed the importance of the voluntary 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...
, repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
, reintegration and resettlement (DDRRR) programme and for all armed groups to participate in the process.
The Council welcomed the repatriation of ex-combatants from Kamina
Kamina
Kamina is a city in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located at around . It is the provincial capital.- Transport :...
and the banning of activities of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda is the primary remnant Rwandan Hutu Power rebel group in the east of the of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is often referred to as simply the FDLR after its original French name: the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda...
by the Congolese government
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...
throughout its territory. There were positive developments on the ground and there was a commitment among Congolese parties to achieve an inclusive political transition. In this regard, the resolution authorised an expansion of MONUC of up to 8,700 military personnel in two task forces; the second force would be deployed once the DDR caseload could not be met by the existing capacity of the first task force.
The resolution emphasised that the main responsibility for a settlement of the conflict rested with the parties themselves, and in this regard, called for:
- a cessation of hostilities by regular forces and armed groups;
- an end to the support of armed groups;
- the provision of full access for MONUC and TPVM (which oversaw the Rwandan withdrawal) throughout the country;
- the surrender of persons indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for RwandaInternational Criminal Tribunal for RwandaThe International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is an international court established in November 1994 by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 955 in order to judge people responsible for the Rwandan Genocide and other serious violations of international law in Rwanda, or by Rwandan...
; - the demilitarisation of KisanganiKisanganiKisangani 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....
; - the restoration of freedom of movementFreedom of movementFreedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
in the Congo RiverCongo RiverThe 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...
.
There was concern at the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Ituri Province where there was an increase in ethnic violence
Ethnic violence
Ethnic violence refers to violence expressly motivated by ethnic hatred...
. The Council called for full access by humanitarian organisations to populations in need. It reiterated that there should be no support for groups fighting in the east of the country, calling on MONUC to continue assessing police training and capabilities particularly in the Itrui region.
The concluding paragraphs of the resolution encouraged the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and the importance of preventing the spread of the conflict to nearby states including 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 Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
, Rwanda and Uganda. Finally, the harassment of Radio Okapi
Radio Okapi
Radio Okapi is a radio network that operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On an annual budget of US$4.5 million, a staff of 200 provide news and information to the entire urban population of the DRC.-History:...
staff was condemned and the convening a conference on peace, security, democracy and development in the African Great Lakes
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...
region was called for.
See also
- Kivu conflictKivu conflictThe Kivu conflict is an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Hutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda . The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo also became involved in the conflict...
- Ituri conflictIturi ConflictThe Ituri conflict is a conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo . While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- Lusaka Ceasefire AgreementLusaka Ceasefire AgreementThe 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...
- 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...