MONUC slams threats to its eastward deployment

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday warned that threats to its eastward deployment would not deter it from fulfilling its mandate.

"The impending deployment of MONUC [the UN mission's French acronym] to Kindu [in eastern-central DRC] has raised some alarm among the ranks of those who seem to be opposed to the success of the operation for ulterior motives," a communiqué from MONUC stated.

It recalled that a MONUC aircraft was shot at on 12 February as it was landing at Kindu airport, and reported that "information in our possession indicates threats of attacks against UN troops upon deployment in Kindu".

"We take these threats for what they are: an attempt to block the peace process," the statement continued. "They will not deter us from proceeding with Phase Three ... which includes the disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration of armed groups, as well as the withdrawal of all foreign forces" from the DRC.

"All the parties must assume their responsibilities by avoiding confusing those who come to help restore peace with those who dread such an event," it added. "Be it stressed once more that every force or movement must guarantee security in the territory under their control."

For its part, "MONUC will proceed with its mission in conformity with its mandate, unimpressed by the enemies of peace," the statement concluded.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a MONUC military source informed IRIN that 140 Zimbabwean troops withdrew on Tuesday from Kananga, capital of Western Kasai Province, to their home capital, Harare. "This was possibly part of the 600-strong troop withdrawal discussed in the media by Zimbabwe. They have been talking of issuing a plan for the last four days but have not given any such plan to us," the source told IRIN.

The MONUC source also said the mission had launched an investigation into the causes and events of the most recent ethnic clashes in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC. MONUC plans to issue a report on their findings, and to reiterate its call to all parties in the region to meet their international legal obligations in providing protection for the civilian population.

"We have some teams in Bunia, but they are not in a position to give accurate details of the incidents due to lack of security guarantees for such investigations," the source said. Another MONUC source told IRIN that the Ugandan army, which maintains a presence in the region, had offered security escorts for verification.