The mandate of MONUSCO: to be revised says the Security Council. The advance of the M23 on Goma condemned
(BRUSSELS2) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday evening condemned the M23 attack on Goma, the regional capital bordering Rwanda, and demanded that the rebels withdraw from the DRC, dissolve their movement and lay down their arms . Proposed by France, the resolution bearing the number 2076 condemns the attacks on civilians, on humanitarian actors as well as on the United Nations peacekeeping forces, MONUSCO. It condemns foreign aid, provides a basis for sanctions against M23 leaders as well as a redefinition of MONUSCO's mandate.
Condemnation of any external aid
The resolution calls on foreign actors who support the M23 to end their support, whatever its nature. The Secretary General of the United Nations, assisted by the African Union and the institutional tools (EJVM) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), is called upon to closely examine reports of external support and sophisticated equipment used by the M23. Without being named, the investigation is particularly aimed at Rwanda, at the source of this "substantial increase in the military capabilities of the M23". Uganda is also in the sights of the United Nations.
Foreign aid to the M23
For the representative of Congo at the UN, Séraphin Ngwej, the operations which led to the fall of Goma are not due to chance. The successes of the M23 are "surprising", he said. The rebels have benefited from remarkable planning, sufficient resupply and above all night vision equipment, which neither the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) nor MONUSCO have in their stocks, with the exception of Rwanda”. A statement shared at European level. As the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, explained to a few journalists (including B2): " heavy artillery elements like the ability to move at night are not seen in local groups without some support”. Rwanda prefers to divert attention. Its representative, Olivier Nduhungirehe, mentioned rocket attacks that hit Rwanda and left two people dead, calling into question the different versions provided by the DRC. He also explained that " The military solution cannot work calling for a dialogue between Congolese and not between bad contacts ».
Sanctions: Two heads of M23 punishable
The Council condemns all summary executions, sexual violence and forced recruitment campaigns, including the use of child soldiers. All those responsible for this violence must be brought before international law. The 1533 Sanctions Committee should decide precisely on the sanctions to be applied against Innocent Kaina and Baudoin Ngaruye, two well-known M23 leaders. Other sanctions could be taken by the Committee on the command of the rebels and those who support them. Rwanda could thus both be sanctioned by the Security Council and at the same time accede to this same Council on January 1, since it was elected there in October for a period of 2 years.
Expansion of MONUSCO's mandate
Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General is invited, in the coming days and in consultation with the participating countries, to present to the Council all the options for a redeployment of the mandate of the UN force. The most feasible solution for the time being would be to give MONUSCO a border control mandate. The appointment of a UN special envoy is also in the drawers. Several criticisms are already coming out, denouncing a coexistence between the M23 and the international forces that have remained in place. But France's representative to the UN, Gérard Araud explained that "thehe mandate of MONUSCO is not to take sides in the civil war. (...) Now that the Congolese national army has left Goma, MONUSCO's mission is to protect civilians". Mission not necessarily obvious for 1600 blue helmets lost in a city of one million inhabitants, assures the ambassador. "We have always tried to promote what is known in jargon as "robust peacekeeping". (...) we will try in the days to come, depending on events, to further strengthen the mandate».
