December 1, 1999
United Nations - The Security Council today approved the mandate and make-up of the United Nations mission to help implement the cease-fire agreement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The 15-member Council voted unanimously to also ask Secretary-General Kofi Annan to take the necessary administrative steps to equip up to 500 UN military observers, with the intention of eventually deploying them to the country. The resolution adopted early Tuesday evening decided that previously authorized personnel - including a multidisciplinary staff of experts in human rights, humanitarian and political affairs, public information, medical and administrative support and child protection - would constitute the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) until 1 March 2000.
By its resolution, the Council decided that MONUC will establish contacts with the signatories to the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement and liaise with the Joint Military Commission (JMC) set up by the accord to enforce the cessation in fighting. The Mission will also provide information on security conditions, with an emphasis on local conditions affecting future decisions on the deployment of UN personnel, and plan for observing the cease-fire and disengagement of forces. Furthermore, MONUC will maintain liaison with all parties to the Lusaka accord to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the fighting.
