United Nations Security Council Resolution 1592
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1592, adopted unanimously on March 30, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, including Resolution 1565
(2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(MONUC) until October 1, 2005.
and international humanitarian law
. It reaffirmed that all parties involved in the conflict were responsible for the safety of civilians in the region. The transitional government was urged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Council noted that the presence of former Rwanda
n troops and Interahamwe
in Congolese territory remained a threat to the local population and on relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It recalled its condemnation of an attack by milita on MONUC forces in February 2005 and welcomed steps to bring the perpetrators to justice. Furthermore, the resolution condemned the illegal exploitation of natural resources
in the country, which was fuelling the conflict.
, the Council extended MONUC's mandate
with the intention of renewing it for further periods. All parties were urged to co-operate with MONUC by allowing it unhindered access and guaranteeing the safety of its personnel. The transitional government was called upon to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel by extending its authority throughout the country, particularly in North and South Kivu and Ituri Province. Furthermore, it had to reform the security sector and make progress towards the holding of elections
.
Meanwhile, the resolution demanded that the governments of Rwanda, Uganda
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo put a stop to the use of their respective territories in support of violations of the arms embargo
imposed by Resolution 1493
(2003), and for neighbouring states to hinder support for illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources. It emphasised that MONUC could use necessary measures, including 'cordon-and-search' powers against armed groups thought to be threatening the population.
The Security Council expressed concern about acts of sexual exploitation
and abuse carried out by United Nations personnel against the local population and called on the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
and troop-contributing countries to urgently address the issue.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1592, adopted unanimously on March 30, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, including Resolution 1565
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1565
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1565, adopted unanimously on October 1, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo until March...
(2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO , is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279...
(MONUC) until October 1, 2005.
Observations
The preamble of the resolution reflected the Council's concern at ongoing hostilities in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and widespread violations of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
. It reaffirmed that all parties involved in the conflict were responsible for the safety of civilians in the region. The transitional government was urged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Council noted that the presence of former Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n troops and Interahamwe
Interahamwe
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization. The militia enjoyed the backing of the Hutu-led government leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Since the genocide, they have been forced out of Rwanda, and have sought asylum in Congo...
in Congolese territory remained a threat to the local population and on relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It recalled its condemnation of an attack by milita on MONUC forces in February 2005 and welcomed steps to bring the perpetrators to justice. Furthermore, the resolution condemned the illegal exploitation of natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
in the country, which was fuelling the conflict.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the Council extended MONUC's mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
with the intention of renewing it for further periods. All parties were urged to co-operate with MONUC by allowing it unhindered access and guaranteeing the safety of its personnel. The transitional government was called upon to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel by extending its authority throughout the country, particularly in North and South Kivu and Ituri Province. Furthermore, it had to reform the security sector and make progress towards the holding of elections
Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Multi-party elections in the DR Congo were held in July 2006, the first multi-party elections in the country since 1960.The 1960 elections, held in the wake of independence, saw Patrice Lumumba become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and declared...
.
Meanwhile, the resolution demanded that the governments of Rwanda, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo put a stop to the use of their respective territories in support of violations of the arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
imposed by Resolution 1493
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1493
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1493, adopted unanimously on July 28, 2003, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo until July 30, 2004...
(2003), and for neighbouring states to hinder support for illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources. It emphasised that MONUC could use necessary measures, including 'cordon-and-search' powers against armed groups thought to be threatening the population.
The Security Council expressed concern about acts of sexual exploitation
Sexual slavery
Sexual slavery is when unwilling people are coerced into slavery for sexual exploitation. The incidence of sexual slavery by country has been studied and tabulated by UNESCO, with the cooperation of various international agencies...
and abuse carried out by United Nations personnel against the local population and called on the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
and troop-contributing countries to urgently address the issue.
See also
- Kivu conflictKivu conflictThe Kivu conflict is an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Hutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda . The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo also became involved in the conflict...
- Ituri conflictIturi ConflictThe Ituri conflict is a conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo . While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- Second Congo WarSecond Congo WarThe Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...