UN makes “conventional war” the priority

MONUC has identified “the conventional war” between the DRC government, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe on the one hand, and Rwanda, Uganda, and the rebels on the other hand, as the first problem it will address in its current, second phase of deployment. In a recent briefing paper, MONUC said it intended to implement five measures in sequence: expand its military liaison to include monitoring functions and development of the Joint Military Commission (JMC); complete the deployment of military observers; disengage and disarm the combatants’ armed forces; and oversee the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. The second problem, MONUC stated, was the disengagement, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) of armed groups in the DRC, and specifically in Kivu, Orientale and Katanga provinces. In addition to the 5,500 UN troops and military observers dedicated to the first problem, the DDR problem may require 11,000 UN troops, for a total personnel strength of about 16,500, it said.