UNITED NATIONS, May 26 -- The mandate of the UN Mission in the Congo is being shrunk, largely by China, in the days before the underlying Security Council resolution must be renewed, informed Council sources tell Inner City Press.
Despite statements by French Ambassador Gerard Araud that the protection of civilians component of the Mission would remain, the move is on to limit the Mission to the Kivus in the Eastern Congo, and to limit protection of civilians to only where the peacekeeping troops are.
Tellingly, the Congo resolution is being stripped of references to other Council resolutions about children and armed conflict and sexual violence.
Council sources express surprise at how little France has fought to keep protection of civilians in. China is winning, a particularly well place source said, in part because their votes or non objections are needed on the "more important" issues of Iran and North Korea.
While the name of the Mission, as first reported by Inner City Press, is expected to change from MONUC to MONUSCO, the name proposed by Inner City Press appears more fitting: MINUSCULO, the incredibly shrinking mandate.
Monday May 31 is a holiday, so the resolution must be passed this week. As with the UN building being shut down for repairs, everything must go, apparently, in the MINUSCULO resolution. Watch this site.
Footnote: reporters in Kinshasa who were told by the Congolese prime minister's office that Araud and the Council mission were clearly told when to get out of the country were surprised when, in a filmed press conference, Araud denied being told when the UN Mission should leave. Afterwards and off camera, apparently, he acknowledged what the Prime Minister had said. But what about what he said on camera?
