UN Security Council authorises MONUSCO to support SADC mission in DRC

UN Security Council authorises MONUSCO to support SADC mission in DRC

A potential regional conflict could see Rwanda fighting against a coalition led by South Africa, which includes the DRC, Malawi, and Tanzania. 

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday, authorising the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO to provide operational and logistical support to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The draft resolution, circulated by France and Sierra Leone, was put to a vote in the 15-member council and passed unanimously, with all 15 members voting in favour.

Rwanda had protested the council in a letter, warning that supporting the mission could spark a regional war. 

Kigali emphasised that a peaceful solution is the best alternative to the crisis in the eastern DRC.

Conversely, the DRC has stated that it will only negotiate with Rwanda after the rebel group M23 is flushed out of its territory.

A potential regional conflict could see Rwanda fighting against a coalition led by South Africa, which includes the DRC, Malawi, and Tanzania. 

The SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) aims to eliminate the M23 rebels, who have been largely linked to Rwanda by the UN and numerous human rights reports.

Rwanda, however, has constantly denied backing the M23 rebels.

Reader Comments

Stay ahead of the news! Click ‘Yes, Thanks’ to receive breaking stories and exclusive updates directly to your device. Be the first to know what’s happening.