Political Committee action “only way out”

The UN Observer Mission in DRC (MONUC) last week expressed concern over the fighting in Idumbe and urged the Joint Military Commission (JMC) charged with implementing the Lusaka ceasefire agreement to “take the necessary measures to avoid a deterioration of the situation”. However, the JMC - comprising the belligerents in the conflict - is itself reported to be “highly-charged” at present, and the gravity and speed of events in Kasai and Katanga has precluded a clear and strong response so far. A meeting of the Political Committee overseeing the peace process was urgently needed, a diplomat close to the process told IRIN on Wednesday.

“Lusaka has to be revised to clarify the situation,” he said. “It was aimed at people willing to respect their word but, today, no-one is respecting any commitment they have made.” He added that the UN Security Council was unable to do anything at this point. “It has insisted there will be no UN peacekeepers until there is a genuine ceasefire in place and the Political Committee will have to contain the deteriorating situation, that’s the only way out,” he said.