Annan considers DRC ceasefire mission

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has urged the United Nations to move an observer force into the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as quickly as possible.

He made the remarks after meeting in the capital, Harare, with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, news reports said on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe is believed to have deployed around 12,000 troops in the DRC backing President Laurent-Desire Kabila’s government soldiers against rebels supported by Rwanda and Uganda.

Mugabe insisted there would be no unilateral withdrawal of Zimbabwean troops from the DRC without the prior exit of Rwandan and Ugandan soldiers.

His remarks came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday said the Security Council has authorised a mission to monitor the ceasefire in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed last July.

Speaking in London at the commemoration of Commonwealth Day, Annan said:

“The Security Council has authorised a mission to monitor the ceasefire and facilitate the implementation of other provisions of the Lusaka Peace agreements, including the ‘national dialogue’ between Congolese parties.”

Annan continued: “The Security Council has given me the heavy responsibility of deciding when conditions are ripe for deployment of this mission - and my Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, is currently in the region making an on-the-spot assessment.”