United Nations Security Council Resolution 1925
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1925, adopted unanimously on May 28, 2010, after reaffirming 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 June 30, 2010, authorised a withdrawal of 2,000 troops and decided that from July 1, 2010, MONUC would be known as the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with a mandate until June 30, 2011.
The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila
, had asked for the force to leave the country by 2011 but human rights groups warned that a sudden withdrawal would cause more conflict and instability.
of the respect for human rights
, rule of law
and international humanitarian law
, and the disarmament
, demobilisation and reintegration of Congolese and foreign troops. There were significant security problems in the east of the country, particularly in the Kivu
s and Orientale regions. Addressing the situation in the Great Lakes region
as a whole, the Council emphasised the illicit trade of natural resources and arms trafficking as major factors contributing to the conflicts in the region, and greater regional efforts were needed to tackle the issue, including legal action against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
(FDLR).
The Council supported the efforts of the government to finalise plans for local, general and presidential elections
. There was concern about the effects of armed conflicts on the civilian population, including targeted attacks, widespread sexual violence
and use of child soldiers
. It condemned attacks on United Nations peacekeepers
and humanitarian personnel, and welcomed commitments made by the Democratic Republic of the Congo government to bring those responsible to justice.
, thus making its provisions legally enforceable.
The Security Council extended MONUC's mandate and renamed it to MONUSCO from July 2010. It decided that MONUSCO would comprise a maximum of 19,815 military troops, 760 military observers, 391 police and 1,050 personnel of formed police units. A withdrawal of 2,000 troops from areas where the situation permitted it do so was authorised; the withdrawal was smaller than what the Congolese government had asked for. The force would be concentrated primarily in the east of the country with three main objectives:
completing military operations in the Kivus and Orientale provinces; establishing security forces to take on MONUSCO's role and improve the capacity of Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect civilians; consolidating state authority throughout the territory.
MONUSCO's mandate emphasised the protection of civilians, United Nations and humanitarian personnel in addition to completing operations against the FDLR, Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) and other groups. It also included reform of the Congolese police, military, legal and judicial systems, preparations for elections and demining
activities. MONUSCO was requested to collect information on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and ensure regular contact with the civilian population on its activities and mandate. The Council also demanded that the FDLR and LRA immediately end violence against the population, including rape
and sexual abuse
.
The resolution concluded by requesting three reports from the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
on October 11, 2010 and January 21 and May 13, 2011 concerning developments on the ground.
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"....
1925, adopted unanimously on May 28, 2010, after reaffirming 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 June 30, 2010, authorised a withdrawal of 2,000 troops and decided that from July 1, 2010, MONUC would be known as the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with a mandate until June 30, 2011.
The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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...
, had asked for the force to leave the country by 2011 but human rights groups warned that a sudden withdrawal would cause more conflict and instability.
Observations
In the preamble of Resolution 1925, the Council noted the progress made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past 15 years and stressed the responsibility of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the CongoGovernment 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...
of the respect for 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...
, rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
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...
, and 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 and reintegration of Congolese and foreign troops. There were significant security problems in the east of the country, particularly 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 Orientale regions. Addressing the situation in the Great Lakes region
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...
as a whole, the Council emphasised the illicit trade of natural resources and arms trafficking as major factors contributing to the conflicts in the region, and greater regional efforts were needed to tackle the issue, including legal action against 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...
(FDLR).
The Council supported the efforts of the government to finalise plans for local, general and presidential elections
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...
. There was concern about the effects of armed conflicts on the civilian population, including targeted attacks, widespread sexual violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
and 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 condemned attacks on United Nations peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
and humanitarian personnel, and welcomed commitments made by the Democratic Republic of the Congo government to bring those responsible to justice.
Acts
The text of the resolution was enacted 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...
, thus making its provisions legally enforceable.
The Security Council extended MONUC's mandate and renamed it to MONUSCO from July 2010. It decided that MONUSCO would comprise a maximum of 19,815 military troops, 760 military observers, 391 police and 1,050 personnel of formed police units. A withdrawal of 2,000 troops from areas where the situation permitted it do so was authorised; the withdrawal was smaller than what the Congolese government had asked for. The force would be concentrated primarily in the east of the country with three main objectives:
completing military operations in the Kivus and Orientale provinces; establishing security forces to take on MONUSCO's role and improve the capacity of Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect civilians; consolidating state authority throughout the territory.
MONUSCO's mandate emphasised the protection of civilians, United Nations and humanitarian personnel in addition to completing operations against the FDLR, Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA) and other groups. It also included reform of the Congolese police, military, legal and judicial systems, preparations for elections and demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
activities. MONUSCO was requested to collect information on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and ensure regular contact with the civilian population on its activities and mandate. The Council also demanded that the FDLR and LRA immediately end violence against the population, including rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and 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...
.
The resolution concluded by requesting three reports from the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
on October 11, 2010 and January 21 and May 13, 2011 concerning developments on the ground.
See also
- Dongo conflictDongo conflictThe Dongo conflict is an armed conflict centered in Dongo, on the left bank of the Ubangi River in the Kungu territory of Sud-Ubangi District, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fighting started in late October 2009 as a conflict between members of two communities over access to fishing ponds: the...
- 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...
- 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...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
External links
- Text of Resolution at ReliefWebReliefWebReliefWeb is an on-line gateway to information on humanitarian emergencies and disasters. An independent vehicle of information, designed specifically to assist the international humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance, it provides information as events unfold, while...