Annan recommends increasing number of UN troops

Noting the difficulties in the eastward deployment of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), (known by its French acronym, MONUC), UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday recommended that the UN Security Council consider increasing the overall number of UN troops and police in the country.

In his latest report to the Council on MONUC's activities, Annan said recent assessments showed that, given its current troop strength, it was "obvious" that MONUC would be unable to undertake the military tasks associated with demilitarising Kisangani, and its further deployment to the eastern part of the country, a statement from UN News Centre said.

"It would be unrealistic to request the mission to do so, particularly in the security environment existing today in the DRC before recommending that MONUC's authorised military strength be increased by 850 troops, as well as an additional 85 civilian police advisers," he said.

With regard to the support from the country's various political actors, Annan pointed out that, regrettably, the cooperation MONUC had received so far had not always been satisfactory.

He called on them to renew their commitment to carry out the Lusaka peace accords and to display the necessary "seriousness of purpose and resolve". "They should avail themselves of the unique opportunity created by the presence of MONUC to reach a viable solution to the conflict," he stressed.

He described the security situation as very volatile, as demonstrated by the intensification of fighting between rebel groups in the northeast of the country. He added that the overall humanitarian situation continued to be characterised by "grievous human rights violations, chronic food insecurity, population displacement, and outbreaks of infectious disease".

"Poor security conditions significantly limit the access of humanitarian agencies, and the humanitarian situation in the east of the DRC remains particularly precarious," he added.

The report was presented to the Council today in a closed-door briefing by Annan's Special Representative and chief of MONUC, Amos Namanga Ngongi.