United Nations Security Council Resolution 1592 – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Resolution 1592 (2005)

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements by its Presidentconcerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular resolution 1565 of1 October 2004, and the statement of 2 March 2005 (S/PRST/2005/10),

Reaffirming its commitment to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity andpolitical independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as of All States in the region, and its support for the process of the Global and All-InclusiveAgreement on the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed inPretoria on 17 December 2002, and calling on all the Congolese parties to honourtheir commitments in this regard, in particular so that free, fair and peacefulelections can take place,

Reiterating its serious concern regarding the continuation of hostilities byarmed groups and militias in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of theCongo, particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu and in the Ituridistrict, and by the grave violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law that accompany them, calling on the Government of National Unity and Transition to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay, and recognizing that the continuing presence of ex-Forces armées rwandaises andInterahamwe elements remains a threat for the local civilian population and an impediment to good-neighbourly relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda,

Welcoming in this regard the African Union’s support for efforts to furtherpeace in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and calling onthe African Union to work closely with MONUC in defining its role in the region,

Recalling its condemnation of the attack by one of these militias against snc xmembers of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo (MONUC), on 25 February 2005, and welcoming the first steps taken todate to bring them to justice, in particular the arrests of militia leaders suspected ofbearing responsibility for human rights abuses,

Reiterating its call on the Congolese parties, when selecting individuals forkey posts in the Government of National Unity and Transition, including the Armed Forces and National Police, to take into account the record and commitment of those individuals with regard to respect for international humanitarian law and humanrights,

Recalling that all the parties bear responsibility for ensuring security withrespect to civilian populations, in particular women, children and other vulnerablepersons, and expressing concern at the continuing levels of sexual violence,

Reaffirming its full support for MONUC and for its personnel, who operate inparticularly hazardous conditions, and welcoming the robust action it is undertakingin pursuit of its mandate,

Recalling the link between the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources in certain regions and the fuelling of armed conflicts, condemning categorically the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other sources of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and urging all States, especially those in the region including the Democratic Republic of the Congo itself, to take appropriatesteps in order to end these illegal activities,

Bearing in mind the third special report of the Secretary-General on MONUC,dated 16 August 2004 (S/2004/650), and its recommendations, and aware of the importance of keeping under review the situation in the Katanga and Kasaïprovinces,

Taking note of the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on MONUC,dated 21 March 2005 (S/2005/167), and looking forward to the special report on theelectoral process announced by the Secretary-General in paragraph 34 of hisseventeenth report,

Noting that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of MONUC, as contained in resolution1565, until 1 October 2005, with the intention to renew it for further periods;

2. Reaffirms its demand that all parties cooperate fully with the operationsof MONUC and that they ensure the safety of, as well as unhindered and immediateaccess for, United Nations and associated personnel in carrying out their mandate,throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in particularthat all parties provide full access to MONUC military observers, including to allports, airports, airfields, military bases and border crossings, and requests theSecretary-General to report without delay any failure to comply with these demands;3. Urges the Government of National Unity and Transition to do its utmost to ensure the security of civilians, including humanitarian personnel, by effectively extending State authority, throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of theCongo and in particular in North and South Kivu and in Ituri;

4. Calls on the Government of National Unity and Transition to carry outreform of the security sector, through the expeditious integration of the Armed Forces and of the National Police of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in particular by ensuring adequate payment and logistical support for their personnel,and stresses the need in this regard to implement without delay the national disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion programme for Congolese combatants;

5. Further calls on the Government of National Unity and Transition todevelop with MONUC a joint concept of operations for the disarmament of foreign combatants by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with theassistance of MONUC, within its mandate and capabilities;

6. Calls on the donor community, as a matter of urgency, to continue toengage firmly in the provision of assistance needed for the integration, training andequipping of the Armed Forces and of the National Police of the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, and urges the Government of National Unity and Transitionto promote all possible means to facilitate and expedite cooperation to this end;

7. Emphasizing that MONUC is authorized to use all necessary means,within its capabilities and in the areas where its armed units are deployed, to deterany attempt at the use of force to threaten the political process and to ensure theprotection of civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, from any armedgroup, foreign or Congolese, in particular the ex-FAR and Interahamwé, encourages MONUC in this regard to continue to make full use of its mandate under resolution1565 in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and stresses that,in accordance with its mandate, MONUC may use cordon and search tactics toprevent attacks on civilians and disrupt the military capability of illegal armed groups that continue to use violence in those areas;

8. Calls on all the parties to the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to make concrete progress towards the holding of elections, as provided for by the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, in particular in furthering the early adoption of the constitution and of the electoral law, as well as the registration of voters;

9. Demands that the Governments of Uganda, Rwanda, as well as theDemocratic Republic of the Congo put a stop to the use of their respective territories in support of violations of the arms embargo imposed by resolution 1493 of 28 July2003 or of activities of armed groups operating in the region;

10. Further urges all States neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo to impede any kind of support to the illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources, particularly by preventing the flow of such resources through their respective territories;

11. Reaffirms its concern regarding acts of sexual exploitation and abusecommitted by United Nations personnel against the local population, and requeststhe Secretary-General to ensure compliance with the zero tolerance policy he hasdefined and with the measures put in place to prevent and investigate all forms ofmisconduct, discipline those found responsible and provide support to the victims,and to pursue active training and awareness-raising of all MONUC personnel, andfurther requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council regularly informed of themeasures implemented and their effectiveness;

12. Urges troop-contributing countries carefully to review the Secretary-General’s letter of 24 March 2005 (A/59/710) and to take appropriate action to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by their personnel in MONUC, including the conduct of pre-deployment awareness-training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such misconduct involving their personnel;

13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 5155th meeting,on 30 March 2005.