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UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has recommended establishing a "forward mission headquarters" for the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC) in Kisangani to enable it to shift "its centre of gravity" to the eastern part of the country.
The headquarters would enable it to coordinate MONUC activities in the east and to spearhead disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration in the region, he said in a report on the mission. More details
He also recommended the creation of two robust military task forces - each comprising 1,700 soldiers - to be stationed in Kindu and Kisangani. Other support units such as a reserve battalion, aviation and riverine troops would also be needed, he said. All of this would require MONUC to increase its military personnel from the current 5,537 to 8,700.
"It should be noted, however, that in the past it has been extremely difficult for the United Nations to obtain such troops from Member States," he noted. If these were not forthcoming, specialised civilian contracts would have to be sought, which were very costly and may be slow to materialise.
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