United Nations Security Council Resolution 1952
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1952, adopted unanimously on November 29, 2010, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, including resolutions 1807
(2008), 1857
(2008) and 1896
(2009), the Council renewed an arms embargo
and related targeted sanctions for a further period until November 30, 2011.
The resolution was drafted by France
.
(FDLR) and Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) lay down their arms, expressing concern that such armed groups were receiving support from international networks.
The Council condemned the illegal flow of weapons into and within the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of resolutions 1533
(2004), 1807, 1857 and 1896 and intended to closely monitor their implementation (texts of these resolutions available here). It recognised that the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the country was fuelling conflicts in the Great Lakes
region. Furthermore, human rights
violations, killings, the use of child soldiers and sexual violence
remained a major concern.
, the Council extended the arms embargo concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a year, along with travel, financial and transport sanctions, further calling on all states to implement the restrictions. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
was requested to extend the mandate
of the group of experts, with the addition of a sixth expert to look at the issue of natural resources, for a year. The group was asked to focus on areas affected by armed groups and the networks that supported them, criminal networks and human rights violations. The Security Council also asked Member States to promote awareness and implementation of a set of guidelines recommended by the expert group regarding the exercise of due diligence
by the importers, processing industries and consumers of mineral products from the DRC, so as to exclude armed groups from minerals supply chains.
The resolution also asked countries in the region to ensure that no support reached the armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country itself was asked to take action against criminal networks and to address prevailing impunity
. Finally, all countries were instructed to cooperate with the investigations of the expert group and to regularly publish statistics regarding the import and export of Congolese resources.
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"....
1952, adopted unanimously on November 29, 2010, after recalling 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...
, including resolutions 1807
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1807
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1807 was unanimously adopted on 31 March 2008.- Resolution :The Security Council, condemning the continuing illicit flow of weapons within and into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this morning decided to extend and adjust the arms embargo and related...
(2008), 1857
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1857
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1857 was unanimously adopted on 22 December 2008.- Resolution :The Security Council, condemning the continuing illicit traffic of weapons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, decided this morning to extend the arms embargo there and its related...
(2008) and 1896
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1896
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1896 was unanimously adopted on 30 November 2009.- Resolution :The Security Council, condemning the continuing illicit traffic of weapons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, decided this morning to extend and expand the arms embargo there and its...
(2009), the Council renewed 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...
and related targeted sanctions for a further period until November 30, 2011.
The resolution was drafted by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council welcomed co-operation between the expert group established to monitor the implementation of the arms embargo and regional governments including the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It remained concerned at the destabilizing presence of armed groups in the east of the country. The Council demanded that armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of RwandaDemocratic 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) and 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) lay down their arms, expressing concern that such armed groups were receiving support from international networks.
The Council condemned the illegal flow of weapons into and within the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of resolutions 1533
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1533
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...
(2004), 1807, 1857 and 1896 and intended to closely monitor their implementation (texts of these resolutions available here). It recognised that the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the country was fuelling conflicts in the 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. Furthermore, 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...
violations, killings, the use of child soldiers and 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...
remained a major concern.
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 the arms embargo concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a year, along with travel, financial and transport sanctions, further calling on all states to implement the restrictions. Meanwhile, 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...
was requested to extend the 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....
of the group of experts, with the addition of a sixth expert to look at the issue of natural resources, for a year. The group was asked to focus on areas affected by armed groups and the networks that supported them, criminal networks and human rights violations. The Security Council also asked Member States to promote awareness and implementation of a set of guidelines recommended by the expert group regarding the exercise of due diligence
Due diligence
"Due diligence" is a term used for a number of concepts involving either an investigation of a business or person prior to signing a contract, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations...
by the importers, processing industries and consumers of mineral products from the DRC, so as to exclude armed groups from minerals supply chains.
The resolution also asked countries in the region to ensure that no support reached the armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country itself was asked to take action against criminal networks and to address prevailing impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
. Finally, all countries were instructed to cooperate with the investigations of the expert group and to regularly publish statistics regarding the import and export of Congolese resources.
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)
- United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of CongoUnited Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of CongoThe 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...