United Nations Security Council Resolution 1258 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Resolution 1258 (1999)
The Security Council,
Reaffirming its resolution 1234 (1999) of 9 April 1999 and recalling the statements of its President of 31 August 1998 (S/PRST/1998/26), 11 December 1998(S/PRST/1998/36), and 24 June 1999 (S/PRST/1999/17),
Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security,
Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and politicalindependence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States in theregion,
Determined to resolve with all parties concerned the grave humanitariansituation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular and in theregion as a whole and to provide for the safe and free return of all refugeesand displaced persons to their homes,
Recognizing that the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo demands an urgent response by the parties to the conflict with support from the international community,
Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safetyof United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted on 9 December 1994,
Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 15 July 1999 on the UnitedNations preliminary deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(S/1999/790),
- Welcomes the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement on the conflict in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo by the States concerned in Lusaka on10 July 1999 (S/1999/815) which represents a viable basis for a resolution ofthe conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
2. Also welcomes the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement on 1 August 1999by the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, expresses deep concern that theCongolese Rally for Democracy has not signed the Agreement and calls upon thelatter to sign the Agreement without delay in order to bring about nationalreconciliation and lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
3. Commends the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the SouthernAfrican Development Community for their efforts to find a peaceful settlement tothe conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in particular thePresident of the Republic of Zambia, and also the Secretary-General, the SpecialEnvoy of the Secretary-General for the peace process in the Democratic Republicof the Congo, the Representative of the Secretary-General to the Great LakesRegion and all those who contributed to the peace process;
4. Calls upon all parties to the conflict, in particular the rebel movements, to cease hostilities, to implement fully and without delay the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement, to cooperate fully with the OAU and the United Nations in the implementation of the Agreement and to desist from any act that may further exacerbate the situation;
5. Stresses the need for a continuing process of genuine nationalreconciliation, and encourages all Congolese to participate in the nationaldebate to be organized in accordance with the provisions of the CeasefireAgreement;
6. Stresses also the need to create an environment conducive to thereturn in safety and dignity of all refugees and displaced persons;
7. Notes with satisfaction the prompt establishment of the PoliticalCommittee and the Joint Military Commission (JMC) by the States signatories tothe Ceasefire Agreement as part of their collective effort to implement theCeasefire Agreement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
8. Authorizes the deployment of up to 90 United Nations military liaisonpersonnel, together with the necessary civilian, political, humanitarian and administrative staff, to the capitals of the States signatories to the CeasefireAgreement and the provisional headquarters of the JMC, and, as security conditions permit, to the rear military headquarters of the main belligerents inthe Democratic Republic of the Congo and, as appropriate, to other areas theSecretary-General may deem necessary, for a period of three months, with thefollowing mandate:
– To establish contacts and maintain liaison with the JMC and allparties to the Agreement;
– To assist the JMC and the parties in developing modalities for theImplementation of the Agreement;
– To provide technical assistance, as requested to the JMC;
- To provide information to the Secretary-General regarding the situation on the ground, and to assist in refining a concept ofoperations for a possible further role of the United Nations in the implementation of the Agreement once it is signed by all parties; and
– To secure from the parties guarantees of cooperation and assurances of security for the possible deployment in-country of military observers;
9. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to appoint a SpecialRepresentative to serve as the Head of the United Nations presence in thesubregion relating to the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congoand to provide assistance in the Implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement, andinvites him to do so as soon as possible;
10. Calls upon all States and parties concerned to ensure the freedom ofmovement, security and safety of United Nations personnel in their territory;
11. Calls for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance tothose in need in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and urges all parties tothe conflict to guarantee the safety and security of all humanitarian personneland to respect strictly the relevant provisions of international humanitarianlaw;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it regularly informed of developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to report at the appropriate time on the future presence of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in support of the peace process;
13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 4032nd meeting,on 6 August 1999.
