United Nations Security Council Resolution 1649
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1649, adopted unanimously on December 21, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, including resolutions 1533
(2004), 1565
(2004), 1592
(2005), 1596
(2005) and 1616
(2005), 1621
(2005) and 1628
(2005), the Council extended and expanded sanctions against the country until July 31, 2006, and demanded that foreign fighters disarm or face sanctions.
for the long-term stability, peace and national reconciliation of the country. Violations of human rights
and international humanitarian law
by the armed milita were criticised by the Council, calling for the individuals to be brought to justice and welcoming action taken against them by the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).
The resolution called upon all armed groups in the Great Lakes region of Africa
–including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
(FDLR), Palipehutu and Lord's Resistance Army
–to immediately lay down their arms
and participate in demobilisation
programmes.
The text recognised the connections between the illegal exploitation and trade of natural resource
s, and arms trafficking as one of the factors fuelling conflicts in the African Great Lakes
region. It urged the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi
, Rwanda
and Uganda
to better work together to disarm the illegal armed groups.
, the Council regretted that the armed groups in eastern Congo were still armed and demanded that they disarm immediately. It decided that measures in Resolution 1596 (2005) relating to the arms embargo and financial and travel sanctions would apply to political and military leaders of foreign armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leaders receiving support from outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The measures would by reviewed by July 31, 2006.
The resolution went on to urge the transitional Congolese government to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, and reaffirmed that MONUC had a legal basis to disarm the militia and protect civilians using "all necessary means". The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was invited to submit a report concerning the disarmament
, repatriation
and resettlement of ex-combatants by March 15, 2006.
The text continued to urge the transitional government to undertake reforms of the security sector, for international donors to continue to provide assistance, and for neighbouring countries to assist in the implementation of sanctions against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly those relating to the transfer of weapons and foreign fighters across borders.
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"....
1649, adopted unanimously on December 21, 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 resolutions 1533
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1533
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1533, adopted unanimously on March 12, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council established a Committee to monitor an arms embargo imposed on all foreign and Congolese forces in...
(2004), 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), 1592
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1592
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 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic...
(2005), 1596
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1596
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1596, adopted unanimously on April 18, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1493 , 1533 , 1552 , 1565 and 1592 , the Council expanded the arms embargo to include...
(2005) and 1616
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1616
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1616, adopted unanimously on July 29, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1493 , 1533 , 1552 , 1565 , 1592 and 1596 , the Council extended sanctions against the...
(2005), 1621
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1621
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1621, adopted unanimously on September 6, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1565 and 1592 , the Council authorised the temporary increase in the strength of the...
(2005) and 1628
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1628
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1628, adopted unanimously on September 30, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1565 , 1592 , 1596 and 1621 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations...
(2005), the Council extended and expanded sanctions against the country until July 31, 2006, and demanded that foreign fighters disarm or face sanctions.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council began by reiterating its concern at the presence of and hostilities involving armed groups in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It underlined the importance of electionsElections 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...
for the long-term stability, peace and national reconciliation of the country. Violations of human rights
Human 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...
by the armed milita were criticised by the Council, calling for the individuals to be brought to justice and welcoming action taken against them by the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).
The resolution called upon all armed groups in the Great Lakes region of Africa
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
–including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda is the primary remnant Rwandan Hutu Power rebel group in the east of the of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is often referred to as simply the FDLR after its original French name: the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda...
(FDLR), Palipehutu and Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
–to immediately lay down their arms
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
and participate in demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
programmes.
The text recognised the connections between the illegal exploitation and trade of natural resource
Natural resource
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
s, and arms trafficking as one of the factors fuelling conflicts in the African Great Lakes
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
region. It urged the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, 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...
and 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...
to better work together to disarm the illegal armed groups.
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 regretted that the armed groups in eastern Congo were still armed and demanded that they disarm immediately. It decided that measures in Resolution 1596 (2005) relating to the arms embargo and financial and travel sanctions would apply to political and military leaders of foreign armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leaders receiving support from outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The measures would by reviewed by July 31, 2006.
The resolution went on to urge the transitional Congolese government to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, and reaffirmed that MONUC had a legal basis to disarm the militia and protect civilians using "all necessary means". 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...
was invited to submit a report concerning the disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
, repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
and resettlement of ex-combatants by March 15, 2006.
The text continued to urge the transitional government to undertake reforms of the security sector, for international donors to continue to provide assistance, and for neighbouring countries to assist in the implementation of sanctions against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly those relating to the transfer of weapons and foreign fighters across borders.
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 1601 to 1700 (2005 – 2006)
- 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...