United Nations Security Council Resolution 1533
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1533, adopted unanimously on March 12, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Council established a Committee to monitor an arms embargo
imposed on all foreign and Congolese forces in the east of the country.
in North and South Kivu and Ituri
in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It subsequently condemned the illegal flow of weapon
s into the country and was determined to monitor the arms embargo imposed under Resolution 1493
(2003).
Furthermore, the right of the Congolese people to control their natural resource
s and the links between the exploitation of the natural resources and arms trafficking.
, the Council demanded that all states refrain from providing weapons and materiel
to armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) was requested to continue inspecting cargo and to seize any items in violation of the arms embargo. It further demanded that all parties allow unimpeded access to MONUC personnel and condemned the continuing exploitation of natural resources that was fuelling the conflict in the region. Nearby states were urged to ensure that no direct military or financial assistance was given to the movements and armed groups in the country.
The resolution established a Committee to report its observations and recommendations concerning the arms embargo and ways to improve its effectiveness. All countries were to report within 60 days on action they had taken to implement the embargo from Resolution 1493. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was asked to appoint a group of up to four experts, one of whom was noted trafficking expert Kathi Lynn Austin
, to gather and analyse information and suggest ways for states to improve their capabilities to implement the arms embargo, for a period until July 28, 2004, maintaining close co-operation with the Committee.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General
was asked to inform of any instances of weapons being supplied to the armed groups and presence of foreign forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, the international community
was called upon to co-operate with the Committee, group of experts and MONUC, and to provide the Congolese government
with assistance in order for it to control its borders and airspace
.
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"....
1533, adopted unanimously on March 12, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the 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 a Committee to monitor an arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
imposed on all foreign and Congolese forces in the east of the country.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council expressed concern at the presence of armed groups and militiaMilitia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
in North and South Kivu and Ituri
Ituri
Ituri may refer to:* Ituri Interim Administration, an interim administration in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo* Ituri Province, a proposed province in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo* Ituri Rainforest* Ituri River...
in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It subsequently condemned the illegal flow of weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s into the country and was determined to monitor the arms embargo imposed under Resolution 1493
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1493
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1493, adopted unanimously on July 28, 2003, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo until July 30, 2004...
(2003).
Furthermore, the right of the Congolese people to control their 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 and the links between the exploitation of the natural resources and arms trafficking.
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 Council demanded that all states refrain from providing weapons and materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
to armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) was requested to continue inspecting cargo and to seize any items in violation of the arms embargo. It further demanded that all parties allow unimpeded access to MONUC personnel and condemned the continuing exploitation of natural resources that was fuelling the conflict in the region. Nearby states were urged to ensure that no direct military or financial assistance was given to the movements and armed groups in the country.
The resolution established a Committee to report its observations and recommendations concerning the arms embargo and ways to improve its effectiveness. All countries were to report within 60 days on action they had taken to implement the embargo from Resolution 1493. Meanwhile, 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 asked to appoint a group of up to four experts, one of whom was noted trafficking expert Kathi Lynn Austin
Kathi Lynn Austin
Kathi Lynn Austin is an expert on arms trafficking, peace and security, and human rights. For nearly 20 years, Ms. Austin has carried out original, precedent-setting and in-depth field investigations into the illegal trade in weapons, illicit trafficking operations, illegal resource exploitation,...
, to gather and analyse information and suggest ways for states to improve their capabilities to implement the arms embargo, for a period until July 28, 2004, maintaining close co-operation with the Committee.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General
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...
was asked to inform of any instances of weapons being supplied to the armed groups and presence of foreign forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, 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 co-operate with the Committee, group of experts and MONUC, and to provide 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...
with assistance in order for it to control its borders and airspace
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
.
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 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- 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...