United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Eoin Young
20 August 2008
Alan Doss, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC and head of MONUC has been on an official visit to North Kivu province since Monday 18 August 2008. This Wednesday 20 August, Mr. Doss officially launched the rehabilitation work of the 80km Rutshuru-Ishasha route, within the framework of an emergency humanitarian rehabilitation programme.
After a courtesy visit on Monday 18 August last to North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku, Mr. Doss then met the main armed groups engaged in the Amani Programme, the process of re-establishment of peace and security in the province.
In his preliminary speech, Mr. Doss recalled that this visit is within the framework of the follow-up of decisions taken during the last meeting of the Amani Programme Steering Committee, held in Goma on 6 August last.
The meeting was also a prelude to the next meeting of the Steering Committee which will be held in September in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province.
Mr. Doss stressed that it was an informal meeting to discuss the latest developments on the ground. Within this framework Mr. Doss underlined the urgent need for the respect of the Goma engagements and the ceasefire, as well as the respect of civilians and the protection of women and children.
Mr. Doss demanded a stop to the exactions (rape, recruitment of children into armed groups, looting and illegal trafficking of resources). He reminded the representatives of the armed groups that the recruitment of children and rape are regarded as war crimes, and that the perpetrators would be brought before the International Criminal Court.
He also insisted on the disengagement plan and the re-launching of the activities of disarmament and reintegration. Lastly, the Special Representative spoke on the importance of the stabilisation plan.
He also stressed the importance of the rehabilitation for the main roads in the province, and the raising of illegal barriers for the free movement of people and goods.
Mr Doss added that particular efforts must be made to ensure the presence of state authority in all parts of the province, with the effective deployment of a police force and judicial system to put an end to impunity.
Before concluding, Mr. Alan Doss once again launched a call to the various actors in the peace process to make more of an effort for the success of the Amani programme, including their participation in the Joint Commission on Peace and Security.
On Monday afternoon, Mr. Doss also met approximately thirty humanitarian organisations working in North Kivu, to discuss the humanitarian situation in the province.
The Special Representative and the participants discussed in particular the measures to be taken to more reinforce security for the population.
On Tuesday 19 August 2008, Alan Doss visited the 60 km Sake-Masisi route, which will be rehabilitated by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), MONUC and the DRC Roads Office, within the framework of an emergency humanitarian rehabilitation programme.
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