On march 28th  2013, the UN Security Council has unanimously adopted the Resolution 2098 that authorizes the deployment of an intervention brigade within the UN mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) to address imminent threats to peace and security.

The intervention brigade established for an initial period of one year will have as mission to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without the Congolese national army, against armed groups that threaten peace in the eastern region of DRC.

The new force of about 3,069 troops will be based in North Kivu province in eastern DRC and will have to neutralize armed groups, reduce the threats to civilian security and make space for stabilization activities.

Apart from establishing the intervention brigade, the Resolution 2098 also provides a new mandate for MONUSCO and extends its mission until 31 March 2014.

Under its new mandate the MONUSCO will support Congolese authorities to protect civilians, neutralize armed groups, and implement key reforms to consolidate peace in the country, particularly in the area of security sector reform and rule of law.

The intervention brigade is designed to further support the political objectives of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, a peace agreement signed last month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Resolution was welcomed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who stated that “it sets out a new, comprehensive approach aimed at addressing the root causes of instability in the eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region,

Through the statement of his spokesperson Ban Ki-moon declared that “He remains personally committed to helping bring peace and stability to the people of the DRC and the Great Lakes region and will keep working to ensure this remains a top priority for the international community”.

Many other personalities hailed the resolution. The under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous said that the text reflected the shared desire of the international community to comprehensively address the root causes of the terrible cycle of violence witnessed in the DRC over nearly two decades. In his press release of this Thursday, the Belgian Minister of foreign affairs, Didier Reynders also said that he was satisfied with the adoption of this resolution. “With this resolution, the United Nations provides the missing element in the further provisions of the agreement in Addis Ababa”, he said in the press release.

The Security Council recalled the signatories of the Addis Ababa Peace Deal to fully implement their commitments in good faith, and urged on the newly designated Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson, to lead, coordinate and assess the implementation of these commitments.

www.monusco.unmissions.org

 M.-C. UWITONZE