Security Council mission due this week

A UN Security Council mission is due to visit the Great Lakes region later this week to monitor the progress in implementing the Lusaka peace accord for the DRC. According to the mission’s terms of reference, the members of the team will focus especially on respect for the ceasefire and cooperation with the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC), as well the disengagement of forces to position agreed on by all sides in the conflict. The mission will also encourage the sides to commit themselves to the next steps of the peace process, namely to prepare by 15 May plans to complete the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC and the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, repatriation or resettlement of the opposing armed groups. Renewal of MONUC’s mandate, which expires on 15 June, will be discussed with the political committee of the Lusaka accord, and the mission will also meet the facilitator of the inter-Congolese dialogue, Ketumile Masire. According to the terms of reference, the mission will also look at the responsibilities of the Security Council in two areas: “a) The co-location of MONUC and the Joint Military Commission (JMC) in Kinshasa to facilitate the implementation of the peace process; b) the link between the exploitation of the natural resources of the DRC and the continuation of the conflict in the light of conclusions that the Council will have drawn from the report of the Panel of Experts.” It will express the Council’s concern over the humanitarian and human rights situation in the DRC. The mission is also due to meet parties involved in the Arusha peace process for Burundi, in a bid to encourage the sides to stop hostilities. “The mission will consider the linkage between the conflicts in Burundi and the DRC, and will encourage the Burundian and Congolese authorities to continue their dialogue.”