Eye on Africa

Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele – Congolese Flag

In the spirit of transparency, which is needed in moving Congo to the next step in its long march to stability and security, a copy of the preliminary findings from MONUC’s special investigation into the Kinshasa events of March 2007, which led Jean-Pierre Bemba into exile, is attached below.

For the past few years, MONUC has played a criticical role in keeping a semblance of order in DRC. This is particularly true for eastern Congo, where only God knows what would have happened had it not been for a strong United Nations military presence.

Despite the many problems that plague peacekeeping operations in DRC — sexual abuses, gun smuggling, mineral trafficking – the blue helmets have done more than just deter the escalation of conflict. The UN has helped run and manage Congo through these tumultuous years.

The UN, however, has consistently failed in one critical area – the lack of transparency in its investigative reports. MONUC has investigated several incidents that have threatened DRC’s peace, security and some time the raison d’être of the UN mission itself. But without fail, MONUC has refused to make its reports public. Their opacity is a major obstacle in resolving whatever issues led to the different incidents in the first place — the fight between President Kabila’s Republican Guard and Bemba’s MLC troops in August 2006 in Kinshasa, the shooting of Bundu dia Kongo followers in Bas-Congo, the repeat fight between the Republican Guard and MLC troops in March 2007 in Kinshasa and other such incidents.

MONUC’s proclivity to secrecy is revolting. The Congolese find it patronizing and inconsistent with the UN’s charter, which to ensure world peace. This UN policy promotes impunity, the core of public mismanagement in Congo.

Click on the ADOBE symbol below to read the report.

Categorized as:Uncategorized> Congo> UN, MONUC> Human Rights

Posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 5:45 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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