France circulated a resolution on Tuesday calling for the emergency deployment of about 1 700 troops to reinforce the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
France’s UN ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said the resolution is in response to a letter from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan calling for the urgent deployment of two battalions to the Kivu region in the eastern DRC and the capital, Kinshasa, to reinforce the 10 800-strong UN force.
The Security Council met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss a draft resolution circulated by France last Friday, which calls for the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC to be more than doubled to 23 900 troops to help support the country’s fragile peace process and move toward free elections in 2005.
But the council is expected to take several weeks to consider that resolution — and especially the huge increase in troops, which Annan requested last month. So the secretary general asked for a second resolution to immediately deploy two battalions — which UN diplomats said would each have about 850 troops — pending a decision on the main resolution.
De la Sabliere said he expected council experts to meet on Wednesday to discuss the emergency request, adding: ”I hope it will be in a position to be adopted before the end of the week.”
On the proposal to more than double the UN force, the French envoy said he believes ”there is real support” for a reinforcement because members realise the DRC force needs to be more efficient.
”But how much is to be discussed, and certainly we have to focus on priorities,” De la Sabliere said, adding that these must be to assist the DRC’s political transition and to stabilise the eastern DRC, which has been the scene of heavy fighting.
”What will be the final figure, we will probably find out in our discussion next week,” the French ambassador said.
In his report last month, Annan said the transition to peace in the DRC is at ”a critical juncture” after the devastating 1998-2003 civil war that claimed more than three million lives and involved six African nations.
The report spelled out steps the Congolese government must take to restore security, implement military reforms, plan for the disarmament and reintegration of former combatants, reunify the country, prepare for elections and build good relations with its neighbours.
Annan said the UN mission cannot taking the steps toward peace and create stability but it can mobilise the resources ”to deter spoilers from derailing the transition”. — Sapa-AP