United Nations Security Council Resolution 1565
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1565, adopted unanimously on October 1, 2004, after recalling all previous 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
(MONUC) until March 31, 2005 and authorised an additional deployment of 5,900 troops and police.
The increase in the size of MONUC was ordered following the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
's call for additional troops, though the 5,900 additional personnel was lower than he had recommended. The adoption of Resolution 1565 marked the beginning of one of the largest and most rapid reconfigurations of a United Nations peacekeeping
mission ever attempted.
and international humanitarian law
. It reaffirmed that all parties involved in the conflict were responsible for the safety of civilians in the region.
, the Council extended MONUC's mandate
and authorised an increase of 5,900 personnel, with deployments in North and South Kivu. MONUC's newly-expanded mandate was to include:
monitoring and maintaining a presence in key areas; protecting civilians, aid workers and United Nations facilities; establish links with the United Nations Operation in Burundi
(ONUB) and the Burundian and Congolese governments; monitor measures imposed in Resolution 1493
(2003); seize and dispose of weapon
s and materiel
in the country that violate Resolution 1493; observe movements of armed groups and foreign military forces; protect government institutions, officials and maintain order; assist with security and the voluntary return of refugee
s; contribute to the demobilisation
, disarmament
and repatriation
of combatants; assist in the electoral process
and human rights.
MONUC was also called upon to support the transitional government and three joint commissions on security sector reform, legislation and the electoral process. Furthermore, MONUC was authorised to use "all necessary means" to enforce its mandate. Meanwhile, the governments of Burundi
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
and Uganda
were asked not to allow their territory to be used to infringe upon the sovereignty
of another. The Council urged full intergovernmenta co-operation and condemned all violations of human rights. It again reaffirmed the link between the illegal exploitation of natural resources
and armed conflict, and welcomed the convening of an international conference on peace and security in the African Great Lakes
region.
Finally, the Security Council expressed concern about allegations of sexual abuse
and misconduct of MONUC personnel, asking the Secretary-General to investigate such reports and take appropriate action.
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"....
1565, adopted unanimously on October 1, 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 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 March 31, 2005 and authorised an additional deployment of 5,900 troops and police.
The increase in the size of MONUC was ordered following 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...
's call for additional troops, though the 5,900 additional personnel was lower than he had recommended. The adoption of Resolution 1565 marked the beginning of one of the largest and most rapid reconfigurations of a United Nations peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
mission ever attempted.
Observations
The preamble of the resolution reflected the Council's concern at ongoing hostilities in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and widespread 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...
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...
. It reaffirmed that all parties involved in the conflict were responsible for the safety of civilians 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...
, the Council extended MONUC's mandate
Mandate (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 authorised an increase of 5,900 personnel, with deployments in North and South Kivu. MONUC's newly-expanded mandate was to include:
monitoring and maintaining a presence in key areas; protecting civilians, aid workers and United Nations facilities; establish links with the United Nations Operation in Burundi
United Nations Operation in Burundi
The United Nations Operation in Burundi was established by United Nations Security Council in May 2004 to ensure the continuation of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signed on 28 August 2000....
(ONUB) and the Burundian and Congolese governments; monitor measures imposed in 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); seize and dispose 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 and materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
in the country that violate Resolution 1493; observe movements of armed groups and foreign military forces; protect government institutions, officials and maintain order; assist with security and the voluntary return 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; contribute to the 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...
, 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...
and 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...
of combatants; assist in the electoral process
Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Multi-party elections in the DR Congo were held in July 2006, the first multi-party elections in the country since 1960.The 1960 elections, held in the wake of independence, saw Patrice Lumumba become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and declared...
and human rights.
MONUC was also called upon to support the transitional government and three joint commissions on security sector reform, legislation and the electoral process. Furthermore, MONUC was authorised to use "all necessary means" to enforce its mandate. Meanwhile, the governments of 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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 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 asked not to allow their territory to be used to infringe upon 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 another. The Council urged full intergovernmenta co-operation and condemned all violations of human rights. It again reaffirmed the link between the illegal exploitation of natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
and armed conflict, and welcomed the convening of an international conference on peace and security 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.
Finally, the Security Council expressed concern about allegations of sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
and misconduct of MONUC personnel, asking the Secretary-General to investigate such reports and take appropriate action.
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...