What's In Blue

Insights on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The concept paper for the open debate on the DRC, scheduled for Wednesday 18 May, has been circulated to all UN member states. The Minister for Cooperation of the DRC is scheduled to attend the debate, which at this stage is expected to be chaired by the secretary-general of the French ministry for foreign affairs. The UN Secretary-General, the head of MONUSCO Roger Meece and representatives of UNDP and the World Bank are also expected to attend. The Council is expected to issue a presidential statement.

This debate will be the third in as many months where Council members consider a specific country situation at a more strategic level—in March the Council looked at Somalia and in April Haiti. This may reflect a desire amongst Council members to take a step back from mandate renewal considerations which are often driven by technical or operational issues and reflect on longer term issues.

According to the concept paper, one of the main purposes of the debate is for the Council to hear from the DRC government on its efforts to stabilise peace. The Council would also consider several short and longer term issues including how to address the continuing insecurity and instability in the eastern Congo and the western province of Equateur, the role of the international community and the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in assisting the government to hold free and transparent presidential and legislative elections in November, the steps needed to establish and strengthen democratic institutions and state authority in the DRC (in particular its eastern provinces) and how to lay the foundations for long-term economic development.

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