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Security Council Condemns Renewed Fighting in Ituri

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
December 26, 2002
Posted to the web December 26, 2002
Nairobi
The UN Security Council has expressed deep concern about the "serious human
rights violations" and the displacement of tens of thousands of people caused
by renewed fighting in the Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council said the fighting "clearly
violated the letter and spirit" of the all-inclusive agreement on the political
transition in the DRC signed on 16 December, and the truce agreement brokered
by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) in Ituri.
It called on all of the Congolese parties to "immediately cease hostilities"
and to implement the power-sharing accord by putting in place the transitional
arrangements without delay.
"In particular, they also called for the Rassemblement congolais pour la
democratie-National/Mouvement de liberation du Congo [RCD-N/MLC] to cease
further offensives, to meet with the RCD-Kisangani/Mouvement de liberation
[RCD-K-ML] leadership in the presence of diplomatic representatives, and for
all parties involved in Ituri to cooperate with MONUC," the council said.
Accusations are being traded between the rebel groups and the government
regarding which of them initiated this latest offensive. Jean-Pierre Bemba of
MLC has categorically denied the involvement of his troops in the fighting.
"I have invited RCD-ML and RCD-N officials to Gbadolite for peace talks aiming
at a ceasefire between them," he told Radio France Internationale on Tuesday.
"Our troops are absolutely not involved in the current events in Ituri."
Meanwhile, The Rwandan government had said it was "especially concerned" by the
fighting in Ituri, due to its proximity to the Rwandan border, and its
involvement of the former Rwandan army (ex-FAR) and Interahmwe, Radio Rwanda
reported on Tuesday.
The Security Council also condemned the fighting between RCD-Goma and armed
groups in Uvira, South Kivu. It called on all concerned parties to stop giving
material support to those engaged in military activities in the northeast and
the Kivus.

   

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