Democratic Republic of the Congo.

AuthorRutsch, Horst
PositionBrief Article

The Security Council held from 24 to 26 January a landmark meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), chaired by United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Seven heads of State from the region--the Presidents of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe--renewed their commitment to the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement of 10 July 1999.

The Lusaka Agreement provided for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the establishment of a Joint Military Commission (JMC) under a neutral Chairman appointed by the Organization of African Unity to investigate ceasefire violations, work out mechanisms for the withdrawal of foreign troops, the deployment of an "appropriate" peacekeeping operation, and the convening of an "inter-Congolese dialogue" intended to lead to a "new political dispensation in the DRC". The signatories agreed that the role of facilitator should be assumed by the former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan highlighted the Lusaka Agreement as "the most viable blueprint" for ending the conflict in the DRC and achieving a comprehensive negotiated solution. Speakers stressed that the unprecedented number of regional leaders taking part in the meeting testified to their commitment to the Lusaka Agreement and their will to inject a fresh momentum to the peace process.

The Security Council reiterated its support of the Lusaka Agreement and announced its intention to act promptly along the lines recommended by the Secretary-General in his latest report. Mr. Annan stressed that there was "no military solution to the conflict", and the Agreement remained the best hope for its resolution. He said that support for the fragile Ceasefire Agreement needed to be strengthened and sustained "before it further erodes."

The report noted that the military and security situation in the DRC had continued to deteriorate, with ceasefire violations worsening the already devastating humanitarian situation. Children...

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