By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 24 – The UN spends more than a billion dollars a year in public funds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, yet when massacres are documented, even filmed, the UN does next to nothing. UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous has been responsible for this inaction, in the DRC for example covering up the Army rapes in Minova, as he covered up and justified his peacekeepers' rares in the Central African Republic. What will also-French replacement Jean Pierre Lacroix do, on filmed atrocities?
Inner City Press on February 20 asked UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq about just such a video, and why the UN continues to work with the Congolese Army. From the UN transcript, text below.
Now, after the UNSC Presidency declined to answer Inner City Press on February 23 and on February 24, French Ambassador Francois Delattre told Inner City Press he wasn't sure of the status of the draft Press Statement but he would revert (the Mission didn't), here just out is the UNSC Press Statement:
"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the violence witnessed in the Kasaï region over recent months. They expressed grave concern at the recent reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by local militia in that region, including unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers, and of killings of civilians by members of the security forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), all of which might constitute war crimes under international law.
They recalled that the Government of DRC bears the primary responsibility to protect civilians within its territory and urged the Government of DRC to constantly exercise maximum restraint and proportionate lawful use of force in its efforts to restore order. They called on the Government of DRC to immediately dispatch a credible and impartial investigation and to bring to justice and hold accountable all those responsible. They welcomed the announcement by the Government of DRC in this regard. They encouraged the Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to provide support to the Congolese authorities, if requested, in the conduct of this investigation, developments in which they will follow very closely. They further called on MONUSCO to monitor and report on violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law and to update its contingency plans in this regard. In the longer term, they encouraged the Government of DRC to continue its efforts for the extension of state authority, ensuring credible governance with capable institutions, especially in the security sector, to prevent and deter violence.
The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at recent incursions of former M23 combatants in DRC and recalled the commitments by all States of the region under the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) framework for the DRC and the region. They noted with appreciation the communique of the third meeting of the guarantors of the PSC Framework on 27 January 2017 in that regard and urged them to continue advancing their commitments.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for the 31 December 2016 political agreement, and its pursuit of peaceful, credible, free, fair and inclusive elections by December 2017, leading to a democratic transfer of power. They expressed their increasing concern regarding the continuing lack of progress in the dialogue among the political stakeholders in DRC related to the implementation modalities of the agreement. They expressed concern that, two months after the signing of the agreement, the appointment of a Prime Minister presented by the Rassemblement coalition, as well as the installation of a new transitional government and of the Comité National de Suivi de l’Accord (CNSA) have yet to take place. They stressed the need to maintain the political goodwill that led to the signing of the agreement in order to avoid further insecurity in the DRC.
In this context, the members of the Security Council called on all stakeholders in the DRC, including President Kabila, the presidential majority and the opposition, to redouble, in good faith, their efforts towards a speedy conclusion of the ongoing talks on the “arrangements particuliers” of the agreement, in order to urgently nominate a Prime Minister presented by the Rassemblement, as per the 31 December agreement, to put in place the CNSA and to fully implement confidence building measures. They recalled that security issues should not delay the implementation of the agreement, and that the rapid implementation of the agreement is important for ensuring peace and security in the DRC.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the mediation led by Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (CENCO), and reaffirmed the need for all parties to support and participate constructively in these mediation efforts. They recalled that that full and timely implementation of the 31 December agreement, in accordance with the Congolese Constitution and in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2277 (2016), is critical in upholding the legitimacy of the transitional institutions until elections.
The members of the Security Council stressed the importance of the Government of the DRC and its national partners taking all necessary steps to accelerate preparations for the elections, without further delays, and to ensure an environment conducive to the peaceful and inclusive conduct of political activities. They further stressed the importance of the inclusion of women in the follow up and implementation of the agreement.
The members of the Security Council further called for the assistance of DRC’s development partners and regional States to support the efforts of relevant Congolese authorities to implement the 31 December agreement and the electoral process, as well as the establishment of sustainable peace and security in the country.
Noting that the effective and swift implementation of the 31 December agreement is critical to the peace and stability of DRC, the members of the Security Council reiterated their commitment to support the implementation of the agreement, in close cooperation with the African Union and regional mechanisms, and their determination to continue to closely follow the situation in the DRC, in particular the respect of human rights, the security conditions on the ground and the efforts to successfully conclude a credible electoral process, and, in particular regarding all Congolese actors whose actions and statement impede the implementation of the agreement and the organization of the elections, to act accordingly.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to MONUSCO and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
They recalled that the Government of DRC bears the primary responsibility to protect civilians within its territory and urged the Government of DRC to constantly exercise maximum restraint and proportionate lawful use of force in its efforts to restore order. They called on the Government of DRC to immediately dispatch a credible and impartial investigation and to bring to justice and hold accountable all those responsible. They welcomed the announcement by the Government of DRC in this regard. They encouraged the Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to provide support to the Congolese authorities, if requested, in the conduct of this investigation, developments in which they will follow very closely. They further called on MONUSCO to monitor and report on violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law and to update its contingency plans in this regard. In the longer term, they encouraged the Government of DRC to continue its efforts for the extension of state authority, ensuring credible governance with capable institutions, especially in the security sector, to prevent and deter violence.
The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at recent incursions of former M23 combatants in DRC and recalled the commitments by all States of the region under the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) framework for the DRC and the region. They noted with appreciation the communique of the third meeting of the guarantors of the PSC Framework on 27 January 2017 in that regard and urged them to continue advancing their commitments.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for the 31 December 2016 political agreement, and its pursuit of peaceful, credible, free, fair and inclusive elections by December 2017, leading to a democratic transfer of power. They expressed their increasing concern regarding the continuing lack of progress in the dialogue among the political stakeholders in DRC related to the implementation modalities of the agreement. They expressed concern that, two months after the signing of the agreement, the appointment of a Prime Minister presented by the Rassemblement coalition, as well as the installation of a new transitional government and of the Comité National de Suivi de l’Accord (CNSA) have yet to take place. They stressed the need to maintain the political goodwill that led to the signing of the agreement in order to avoid further insecurity in the DRC.
In this context, the members of the Security Council called on all stakeholders in the DRC, including President Kabila, the presidential majority and the opposition, to redouble, in good faith, their efforts towards a speedy conclusion of the ongoing talks on the “arrangements particuliers” of the agreement, in order to urgently nominate a Prime Minister presented by the Rassemblement, as per the 31 December agreement, to put in place the CNSA and to fully implement confidence building measures. They recalled that security issues should not delay the implementation of the agreement, and that the rapid implementation of the agreement is important for ensuring peace and security in the DRC.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the mediation led by Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (CENCO), and reaffirmed the need for all parties to support and participate constructively in these mediation efforts. They recalled that that full and timely implementation of the 31 December agreement, in accordance with the Congolese Constitution and in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2277 (2016), is critical in upholding the legitimacy of the transitional institutions until elections.
The members of the Security Council stressed the importance of the Government of the DRC and its national partners taking all necessary steps to accelerate preparations for the elections, without further delays, and to ensure an environment conducive to the peaceful and inclusive conduct of political activities. They further stressed the importance of the inclusion of women in the follow up and implementation of the agreement.
The members of the Security Council further called for the assistance of DRC’s development partners and regional States to support the efforts of relevant Congolese authorities to implement the 31 December agreement and the electoral process, as well as the establishment of sustainable peace and security in the country.
Noting that the effective and swift implementation of the 31 December agreement is critical to the peace and stability of DRC, the members of the Security Council reiterated their commitment to support the implementation of the agreement, in close cooperation with the African Union and regional mechanisms, and their determination to continue to closely follow the situation in the DRC, in particular the respect of human rights, the security conditions on the ground and the efforts to successfully conclude a credible electoral process, and, in particular regarding all Congolese actors whose actions and statement impede the implementation of the agreement and the organization of the elections, to act accordingly.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to MONUSCO and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
From the UN's Feb 20 transcript:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about this DRC video of summary executions by the army of civilians, including women and children. A number of countries have spoken out, but I’m wondering, particularly given since the UN does joint operations with the… the… the DRC authorities, what steps is the UN taking to investigate the… the murders shown on the video and to see whether it, in fact, supports and works with any of the units involved?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, we don’t provide any support to the Congolese Armed Forces in the Kasais, which is where this video applies. All current cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is focused on efforts to neutralize armed groups in the Eastern DRC according to the established procedures under the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.
The Mission has requested from the DRC authorities a credible and independent investigation into the actions of the Congolese Armed Forces in the Kasais. MONUSCO has also deployed a mobile monitoring response team in the area to investigate and document human rights violations and has reinforced its civilian, police and military engagement at all levels with the Congolese authorities to address the situation.
Inner City Press: I guess one question I have about this is… I mean, I understand that the units are broken down by geography, but the way… the… the… the… it seems to reflect so badly on the army as a whole, the fact this would… that unarmed people would be shot in this way and that it would be filmed and circulated in the way that it was that I’m wondering, at what point is… is the… is the human rights due diligence only triggered by the specific unit that does something, or is there, in fact, command responsibility given, like, could there be commanders in Kinshasa in charge of not only the units in Kasais but also, to some degree, the units in the east and their failure to… to… to train, investigate, or discipline would… would trigger loss of support?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, as I just mentioned, that’s why we requested… even though we don’t cooperate with the Congolese Armed Forces in the Kasais, we have requested from the DRC authorities a credible and independent investigation into the Congolese Armed Forces’ overall action in the Kasais.
Regarding the video, obviously, it shows very shocking footage of killings and executions of civilians by uniformed personnel. The Mission is looking into verifying the source of the video and identifying whether it is linked to the recent events in the Kasais. This video is one piece of information among many that we’re looking into in connection to the spate of incidents that have taken place in Kananga in the past days.
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, we don’t provide any support to the Congolese Armed Forces in the Kasais, which is where this video applies. All current cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is focused on efforts to neutralize armed groups in the Eastern DRC according to the established procedures under the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.
The Mission has requested from the DRC authorities a credible and independent investigation into the actions of the Congolese Armed Forces in the Kasais. MONUSCO has also deployed a mobile monitoring response team in the area to investigate and document human rights violations and has reinforced its civilian, police and military engagement at all levels with the Congolese authorities to address the situation.
Inner City Press: I guess one question I have about this is… I mean, I understand that the units are broken down by geography, but the way… the… the… the… it seems to reflect so badly on the army as a whole, the fact this would… that unarmed people would be shot in this way and that it would be filmed and circulated in the way that it was that I’m wondering, at what point is… is the… is the human rights due diligence only triggered by the specific unit that does something, or is there, in fact, command responsibility given, like, could there be commanders in Kinshasa in charge of not only the units in Kasais but also, to some degree, the units in the east and their failure to… to… to train, investigate, or discipline would… would trigger loss of support?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, as I just mentioned, that’s why we requested… even though we don’t cooperate with the Congolese Armed Forces in the Kasais, we have requested from the DRC authorities a credible and independent investigation into the Congolese Armed Forces’ overall action in the Kasais.
Regarding the video, obviously, it shows very shocking footage of killings and executions of civilians by uniformed personnel. The Mission is looking into verifying the source of the video and identifying whether it is linked to the recent events in the Kasais. This video is one piece of information among many that we’re looking into in connection to the spate of incidents that have taken place in Kananga in the past days.
We'll have more on this.
