Sunday, September 8, 2013
Saturday, September 7, 2013
UN peacekeeping mission in Mali notes formation of new Government
6 September
2013 – Mali’s new leadership is forming a new Government today, a process
started with the swearing in of the new President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, an
event noted by the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country.
Mr. Keita
took the oath of office on Wednesday, with an inauguration celebration
scheduled to take place in the capital, Bamako, on 19 September.
The
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) noted
the swearing-in as a major political milestone in Mali.
Shortly
after his election, Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon congratulated Mr. Keita, as well as the people of Mali, and
acknowledged the concession of the second place candidate Soumaïla Cissé,
saluting his commitment to democratic principles.
The
elections were seen as an important step on the path to recovery for Mali.
Since early 2012, the country has witnessed a military coup d’état, renewed
fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its
northern territory by radical Islamists.
In April,
the Security Council approved a 12,600-strong MINUSMA, authorizing the blue
helmets “to use all necessary means” to carry out security-related
stabilization tasks, protect civilians, UN staff and cultural artefacts and
create the conditions for provision of humanitarian aid.
MINUSMA’s
core task is to support the political process in Mali, in close coordination
with the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In
accordance with this mandate, MINUSMA provided technical and logistical
assistance for the 11 August run-off election, as well as for the first round
of voting held on 28 July, in addition to support to the Malian security
authorities.
Mr. Ban has
reiterated the UN’s commitment to accompanying Mali in its stabilization and
peace consolidation process, including through support for the
yet-to-be-scheduled national legislative elections.
Mr. Keita’s
Government has chosen Oumar Tatam Ly as the Prime Minister, taking over from
interim premier Diango Cissoko. The Government is now reportedly working on the
process of selecting ministers.
Darfur: African Union-UN mission recovers body of peacekeeper missing since floods
5 September
2013 – The body of an African Union-United Nations peacekeeper who had been
assisting flood victims has been recovered in Darfur, a spokesperson announced
today.
“The African
Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports
that one of its patrols has recovered the remains of one of the four
peacekeepers reported missing following floods late last month,” the
spokesperson told journalists in New York.
Six AU-UN
peacekeepers were swept away by powerful currents on 25 August while escorting
UN World Food Programme (WFP) trucks to
Masteri, west Darfur.
The incident
occurred when the peacekeepers attempted to pull out their truck which was
stuck in the mud of a river valley near Nioro village approximately 30
kilometres southwest of El Geneina
A rescue
team later found two of the peacekeepers alive, but four had remained missing.
Established
in July 2007, UNAMID has the protection of civilians as its core mandate. In
addition, the peacekeeping operation is tasked with facilitating the delivery
of humanitarian aid and assisting with an inclusive peace process in Darfur,
where fighting broke out nine years ago, pitting Government forces and allied
militiamen against rebel groups.
In recent
weeks, the UN and its partners in Sudan have been working to provide emergency
support hundreds of thousands of people that have been affected by flooding.
According to
Government estimates, as many as 530,000 people have been affected by the
floods triggered by heavy rains across the country, and at least 74,000 houses
have been damaged or destroyed by the rapidly rising waters.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Strongly condemning threats to Lebanon’s stability, Security Council extends UN peacekeeping force
29 August
2013 – The Security Council today extended the
mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force monitoring the
Israeli-Lebanese border by another year and called on all parties in the region
to abide with the cessation of hostilities and respect the safety of UNIFIL and
other UN personnel.
In a morning
meeting in New York, the Council agreed to extend the work of the UN Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
until 31 August 2014, as it condemned acts to threaten the country’s security
and stability, and reaffirmed its determination to ensure that no such acts of
intimidate will prevent UNIFIL form carrying out its mandate.
The
15-member body commended UNIFIL for helping to establish a “new strategic
environment in southern Lebanon” and called for further cooperation between the
interim force and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), particularly regarding
coordinated and adjacent patrols.
It also
urged the Government of Israel to expedite the withdrawal of its army from
northern Ghajar “without further delay”.
Established
in 1978, UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring that the area between the Blue Line and
the Litani River is free of unauthorized weapons, personnel and assets. It also
cooperates with the LAF so they can fulfil their security responsibilities.
In its
resolution, the Security Council also called for rapid finalization of the
investigation launched by Lebanon regarding the 27 May, 26 July and 9 December
2011 attacks, and to bring those responsible to justice.
The Council
also urged all parties “to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL is
fully respected and unimpeded” avoiding any course of action which endangers
the UN.
In addition,
the Council welcomed efforts undertaken by the UN mission to implement Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon’s zero-tolerance
police on sexual exploitation and abuse, and to ensure full compliance of its
personnel with the UN code of conduct.
In case of
improper action, the troop-contributing countries are urged to take preventive
and disciplinary action to property investigate and punish their personnel, the
Security Council wrote.
Security Council demands DR Congo rebel groups to end all violence, immediately disband
29 August
2013 – The United Nations Security Council today reiterated its demand to M23
and all other rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to
halt “all forms of violence and lay down their arms,” amid renewed fighting in
the countries strife-torn eastern region.
In a
statement, the Council called on the M23 and the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), among other rebel groups, to “immediately and
permanently disband and lay down their arms” and said it was ready to adopt
“additional targeted sanctions against those acting in violation of the
sanctions regime and the arms embargo.”
They
condemned in the strongest terms the “repeated and targeted attacks” by the M23
against civilians and UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO), which
have killed several people, including a Tanzanian peacekeeper, and injured
several others.
The
peacekeeper was killed yesterday during an attack in the Kibati heights in
North Kivu as MONUSCO supported the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) in
protecting civilian-populated areas of Goma.
Members of
the Council, who were briefed on this issue by the Assistant Secretary-General
for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, expressed their condolences to the
family of the peacekeeper as well as to the Tanzanian Government, and called on
DRC authorities to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators
to justice.
The
15-member body also expressed concern at reports of repeated mortar shells and
bombs from DRC territory landing in neighbouring Rwanda, and called for a
thorough investigation into the sources of these shells and bombs by the Expanded
Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM).
The Council
praised the active steps taken by the MONUSCO to implement its mandate, in
particular the protection of civilians, and encouraged the continuation of
these efforts. They also welcomed the order by the Secretary-General's Special
Representative in the country, Martin Kobler to take all necessary actions to
protect civilians, and emphasized that any effort to undermine MONUSCO's
ability to implement its mandate will not be tolerated.
In March,
the Council authorized the deployment of an intervention brigade within MONUSCO
to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without the FARDC, against
armed groups that threaten peace in eastern DRC. The brigade is tasked with
neutralizing armed groups, reducing the threat posed to State authority and
civilian security and make space for stabilization activities.
DR Congo: Ban condemns attacks on civilians, calls on parties to pursue political process
30 August
2013 – Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon today condemned the latest bout of violence in the eastern Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) and called on all parties to engage in the
political process that aims to address the causes of the conflict.
In a
statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he was “deeply concerned
about the escalating violence in the eastern DRC” and in particular by the
indiscriminate shelling by the armed group M23 which caused deaths, injuries
and damage among the civilian population in the eastern provinces as well as
the immediate border area in Rwanda. A UN peacekeeper also died in one of the
attacks on Wednesday.
“The
Secretary-General encourages all parties concerned to pursue a comprehensive
political process aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict,” the
statement said.
Mr. Ban
called on all regional actors concerned to “exercise utmost restraint and
refrain from any acts or statements that could lead to a further deterioration
of the situation.” He also called on all countries with influence in the region
to assist in easing tensions.
The
Secretary-General's Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Mary Robinson, and
his Special Representative for the DRC, Martin Kobler, are currently fully
engaged in diplomatic efforts to help overcome the current situation, the
statement said.
Over the
past year, the M23, along with other armed groups, has clashed repeatedly with
the national DRC forces (FARDC) in the eastern DRC. As part of an effort to
address the underlying causes of violence in the region, the Government of DRC
along with 10 other countries and four regional and international institutions
adopted a framework to consolidate peace in the country.
Known
formally as the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the
Great Lakes region, the accord serves as a blueprint for peace and development
in the region.
Mr. Ban
stressed that the UN remains committed to taking all necessary actions to
protect civilians in the eastern DRC and emphasized that spoilers and those who
violate international law must be held accountable.
DR Congo: UN envoy calls for end to hostilities, focus on political process at start of visit
2 September
2013 – The United Nations Special Envoy for Africa's Great Lake's region is in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to start a regional tour with envoys
from the African Union, European Union and the United States to bolster
diplomatic efforts for peace.
Mary
Robinson's visit comes amid renewed intense fighting in the eastern DRC where
over the past year, the M23, along with other armed groups, has clashed
repeatedly with the DRC national forces (FARDC).
“I urge all
parties concerned to immediately stop military confrontations in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo and work to rebuild trust in peace efforts,”
the Special Envoy said at
her arrival in the capital, Kinshasa, on Sunday.
“What the
DRC and the region need is peace, stability and economic development. This can
only be achieved by tackling the root causes of the conflict through a
comprehensive political process,” Mrs. Robinson stressed.
The envoy is
accompanied by Martin Kobler, the new Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for the DRC and head of the UN mission there (MONUSCO).
Prior to the
start of the joint regional tour, she and Mr. Kobler are meeting with UN
partners in the DRC, and travelling to Goma to “express solidarity with the
civilian population and MONUSCO,” according to Mrs. Robinson's office.
During the
four-day visit, scheduled to start on Wednesday, Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Kobler
will speak with senior government officials and representatives of local
authorities, the international community and civil society in the DRC, Uganda
and Rwanda.
They will be
joined by Boubacar Diarra, Special Representative of the African Union; Koen
Vervaeke, European Union Senior Coordinator for the Great Lakes region; and
Russ Feingold, US Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes region and the DRC.
The goal of
the trip is to discourage further hostilities and to energize political efforts
for peace in the region, including the so-called Kampala talks held under the
auspices of the Chairperson of the International Conference for the Great Lakes
Region (ICGLR), Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
While in
Kampala on 5 September, Mrs. Robinson and the envoys will attend an
extraordinary session of the IGCLR focused on the crisis in eastern DRC.
According to
Mrs. Robinson's office, they will stress the urgency of steps forward in the
implementation of the 11-nation Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for
the DRC and the region signed earlier this year under UN auspices as a
comprehensive approach to sustainable peace in the region.
Mrs.
Robinson had dubbed the accord a “framework of hope” and has repeatedly said
that there is a renewed opportunity in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes to
address the underlying causes of the conflict and stop the violence for good.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday
said he was “deeply concerned” about the escalating violence and in particular
by the indiscriminate shelling by the armed group M23 which caused deaths,
injuries and damage among the civilian population in the eastern provinces as
well as the immediate border area in Rwanda. A UN peacekeeper also died in one
of the attacks.
In the past
year, the fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people, exacerbating an
ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region which includes 2.6 million internally
displaced people (IDPs) and 6.4 million in need of food and emergency aid.
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