United Nations Security Council Resolution 1671
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1671, adopted unanimously on April 25, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions concerning the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, particularly resolutions 1565
(2004), 1592
(2005), 1621
(2005) and 1635
(2005), the Council authorised the deployment of the European Union
's EUFOR RD Congo
force to assist the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) during the 2006 general elections
.
The first of the 1,450 EUFOR forces began arriving in July 2006.
that entered into force on February 18, 2006. It stated that to achieve lasting peace and stability, the holding of elections was necessary and the rule of law
had to be restored.
The intention of the European Union to deploy a mission to support MONUC was welcomed by Security Council members.
, the Council authorised the deployment of the European Union mission supporting MONUC for a period of four months after the date of the first presidential and parliamentary elections. It would concentrate in the capital Kinshasha (allowing MONUC to focus on the east of the country) and have elements outside the country and would be subject to a mandate
extension beyond September 30, 2006, in conjunction with MONUC. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was to inform the Council on the Congolese authorities timetable for the elections.
EUFOR RD Congo was authorised to take the following measures:
assist MONUC in difficult situations to prevent them from escalating; protect the population under immediate threat of danger; contribute to the protection of N'djili Airport in Kinshasa; ensure the safety and freedom of movement
of personnel and facilities of EUFOR RD Congo; conduct limited operations to extract individuals from danger.
The arms embargo
and other sanctions applied in resolutions 1493
(2003) and 1596
(2005) would not apply to the operation. The Congolese government
and European Union were urged to conclude a status of forces agreement
. Regional states were also asked to provide support, and MONUC was authorised to provide necessary logistical support.
Finally, all Congolese parties were urged to uphold their commitment to a democratic process.
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"....
1671, adopted unanimously on April 25, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions concerning 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...
, particularly 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), 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), 1621
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1621
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 and 1592 , the Council authorised the temporary increase in the strength of the...
(2005) and 1635
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1635
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1635, adopted unanimously on October 28, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1565 , 1592 , 1596 , 1621 and 1628 , the Council extended the mandate of the United...
(2005), the Council authorised the deployment of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's EUFOR RD Congo
EUFOR RD Congo
EUFOR RD Congo was a short European Union deployment in 2006 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 25 April 2006, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1671 , authorising the temporary deployment of a European Union force to support the United Nations Mission in the...
force to assist the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) during the 2006 general elections
Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, 2006
General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 30, 2006, the first multiparty elections in the country in 41 years. Voters went to the polls to elect both a new President of the Republic and a new National Assembly, the lower-house of the Parliament.The polls were...
.
The first of the 1,450 EUFOR forces began arriving in July 2006.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council praised the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the holding of a referendum for a draft constitutionConstitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
that entered into force on February 18, 2006. It stated that to achieve lasting peace and stability, the holding of elections was necessary and the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
had to be restored.
The intention of the European Union to deploy a mission to support MONUC was welcomed by Security Council members.
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 authorised the deployment of the European Union mission supporting MONUC for a period of four months after the date of the first presidential and parliamentary elections. It would concentrate in the capital Kinshasha (allowing MONUC to focus on the east of the country) and have elements outside the country and would be subject to a mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
extension beyond September 30, 2006, in conjunction with MONUC. 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...
was to inform the Council on the Congolese authorities timetable for the elections.
EUFOR RD Congo was authorised to take the following measures:
assist MONUC in difficult situations to prevent them from escalating; protect the population under immediate threat of danger; contribute to the protection of N'djili Airport in Kinshasa; ensure the safety and freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
of personnel and facilities of EUFOR RD Congo; conduct limited operations to extract individuals from danger.
The arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
and other sanctions applied in resolutions 1493
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1493
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1493, adopted unanimously on July 28, 2003, after recalling all 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 July 30, 2004...
(2003) and 1596
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1596
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1596, adopted unanimously on April 18, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1493 , 1533 , 1552 , 1565 and 1592 , the Council expanded the arms embargo to include...
(2005) would not apply to the operation. The Congolese government
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second institution in the central executive branch of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the first institution being the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who has the title of head of state.- Description :Under the...
and European Union were urged to conclude a status of forces agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
. Regional states were also asked to provide support, and MONUC was authorised to provide necessary logistical support.
Finally, all Congolese parties were urged to uphold their commitment to a democratic process.
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...