United Nations Security Council Resolution 1621
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1621, adopted unanimously on September 6, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, including resolutions 1565
(2004) and 1592
(2005), the Council authorised the temporary increase in the strength of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(MONUC) to assist with upcoming elections.
The additional personnel joined the then-largest United Nations peacekeeping
operation, totalling 19,000 personnel.
in the process of national reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and called upon all transitional institutions to ensure that they were free and fair. It welcomed efforts by the Congolese authorities to promote good governance
and economic management, and praised the donor community for their contributions towards this process.
There was also concern at hostilities in the east of the country, including violations of human rights
and international humanitarian law
.
, the Council approved of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
's recommendations to increase the size of MONUC by 841 personnel, including police units. The resolution emphasised the temporary nature of the increase, with a view to its reduction from July 1, 2006. The additional units would provide support to the electoral commission, as well as assistance to the transitional government and international financial institutions to help promote good governance and economic management.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1621, adopted unanimously on September 6, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, including resolutions 1565
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1565
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1565, adopted unanimously on October 1, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo until March...
(2004) and 1592
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1592
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1592, adopted unanimously on March 30, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Resolution 1565 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic...
(2005), the Council authorised the temporary increase in the strength of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO , is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279...
(MONUC) to assist with upcoming elections.
The additional personnel joined the then-largest United Nations peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation, totalling 19,000 personnel.
Observations
The Council reiterated the importance of holding electionsElections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Multi-party elections in the DR Congo were held in July 2006, the first multi-party elections in the country since 1960.The 1960 elections, held in the wake of independence, saw Patrice Lumumba become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and declared...
in the process of national reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and called upon all transitional institutions to ensure that they were free and fair. It welcomed efforts by the Congolese authorities to promote good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
and economic management, and praised the donor community for their contributions towards this process.
There was also concern at hostilities in the east of the country, including violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the Council approved of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
's recommendations to increase the size of MONUC by 841 personnel, including police units. The resolution emphasised the temporary nature of the increase, with a view to its reduction from July 1, 2006. The additional units would provide support to the electoral commission, as well as assistance to the transitional government and international financial institutions to help promote good governance and economic management.
See also
- Kivu conflictKivu conflictThe Kivu conflict is an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Hutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda . The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo also became involved in the conflict...
- Ituri conflictIturi ConflictThe Ituri conflict is a conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo . While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1601 to 1700 (2005 – 2006)
- Second Congo WarSecond Congo WarThe Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...