MONUC's Mandate & Resolutions
All resolutions and other UN reports can
be found in our Documents Archive.
MONUC's mandate is defined by the Security Council's resolutions. The current
mandate is mostly provided by Resolution 1493, dated 28 July
2003, whereby the Security Council, acting under the Chapter VII of the United
Nations Charter, authorized the increase of MONUC's military strength to
10,800.
According to this resolution the Security Council:
- Requests MONUC, which convenes the International Committee in support of the
Transition, to coordinate all the activities of the United Nations system in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to facilitate coordination with other
national and international participants in support of the transition;
- Encourages MONUC, in coordination with other United Nations agencies, donors
and non-governmental organizations, to provide assistance during the transition
period for the reform of security forces, the re-establishment of a State based
on the rule of law and the preparation and holding of elections throughout the
territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
- Authorizes MONUC to assist the Government of National Unity and Transition in
disarming and demobilizing those Congolese combatants who may voluntarily
decide to enter the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process
within the framework of the Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration
Program (MDRP), pending the establishment of a national DDR program in
coordination with the United Nations Development Program and other concerned
agencies;
- Authorizes MONUC to take the necessary measures, in the areas of deployment
of its armed units, to protect United Nations personnel, facilities,
installations and equipment; to ensure the security and freedom of movement of
its personnel, in particular those engaged in missions of observation,
verification and DDRRR; to protect civilians and humanitarian workers under
imminent threat of physical violence; and to contribute to the improvement of
the security conditions in which humanitarian assistance is provided;
*In order to fulfill its mandate, the Security Council authorizes MONUC to use
all means in Ituri district, and as deemed necessary and within the limits of
its capacities, in the Kivu's. This is the Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter.
Evolution of MONUC mandate:
Upon its creation in 2000, the United Nations Security Council asked MONUC, by
the resolution 1291, to implement the following mandate:
- To monitor the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and investigate
violations of the ceasefire;
- To establish and maintain continuous liaison with the headquarters of all the
parties' military forces;
- To develop, within 45 days following the adoption of the resolution 1291, an
action plan for the overall implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement by all
concerned with particular emphasis on the following key objectives: the
collection and verification of military information on the parties' forces, the
maintenance of the cessation of hostilities and the disengagement and
redeployment of the parties' forces, disarmament, demobilization, resettlement
and reintegration of all members of all armed groups referred to in Annex A,
Paragraph 9.1 of the Ceasefire Agreement, and the orderly withdrawal of all
foreign forces;
- To work with the parties to obtain the release of all prisoners of war,
military captives and remains in cooperation with international humanitarian
agencies;
- To supervise and verify the disengagement and redeployment of the parties'
forces;
- Within its capabilities and areas of deployment, to monitor compliance with
the provision of the Ceasefire Agreement on the supply of ammunition, weaponry
and war-related materiel to the field, including to all armed groups referred
to in Annex A, Paragraph 9.1 of the Lusaka Agreement;
- To facilitate humanitarian assistance and human rights monitoring, with
particular attention to vulnerable groups including women, children and
demobilized child soldiers, as MONUC deems within its capabilities and under
acceptable security conditions, in close cooperation with other UN agencies,
related organizations and non-governmental organizations;
- To cooperate closely with the Facilitator of the National Dialogue, provide
him with support and technical assistance, and coordinate other United Nations
agencies' activities to this effect;
- To deploy mine experts to assess the scope of the mine and unexploded
ordnance problems, coordinate the initiation of the mine clearance activities,
develop a mine clearance plan, and carry out emergency mine action activities
as required in support of its mandate.
Acting under chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security
Council also decided that MONUC may take additional measures, in the areas of
deployment of its infantry battalions and as it deems it within its
capabilities, to protect United Nations and co-located Joint Military
Commission personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the
security and freedom of movement of its personnel, and protect civilians under
imminent threat of physical violence.
The Security Council's resolution 1355 dated 15 June 2001:
Decides to extend the mandate of MONUC until 15 June 2002, and also decides to
review progress at least every four months based or at shorter intervals, on
reporting by the Secretary General.
The Security Council's resolution 1376 dated 9 November 2001:
Supports the implementation of phase III of the deployment of MONUC, according
to the concept of operations explained in paragraph 59 to 82 of Secretary
General Report (S/2001/1970).
The Security Council's resolution 1399 dated 19 March 2002:
By which the Council, among other things, condemned the resumption of fighting
in Moliro and reminded RCD-Goma and all other parties that they must comply
with their obligations with regard to the Ceasefire Agreement, the
disengagement plan and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.
The Security Council's resolution 1417 dated 14 June 2002:
By which the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of MONUC until
30 June 2003; took note of the recommendation by the Secretary-General for a
troop ceiling increase and expressed its intention to consider authorizing it
as soon as further progress had been achieved and the steps referred to in
paragraph 12 of resolution 1376 (2001) had been taken
The Security Council's resolution 1445 dated 4 December 2002:
By which the Council, among other things, endorsed the recommendations of the
Secretary-General in his special report, endorsed the new concept of operations
outlined in the report and authorized the expansion of MONUC to 8,700 military
personnel
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