United Nations Security Council Resolution 1304

United Nations Security Council resolution 1304, adopted unanimously on 16 June 2000, after recalling resolutions 1234 (1999), 1258 (1999), 1273 (1999), 1279 (1999), 1291 (1999) and 1296 (2000) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council demanded the immediate withdrawal of Ugandan, Rwandan, Congolese opposition and other armed groups from Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1]

UN Security Council
Resolution 1304
Location of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date16 June 2000
Meeting no.4,159
CodeS/RES/1304 (Document)
SubjectThe situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Voting summary
  • 15 voted for
  • None voted against
  • None abstained
ResultAdopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members
Non-permanent members

The resolution primarily focused on fighting in the city of Kisangani in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, which had claimed up to 160 lives prior to the adoption of Resolution 1304.[2]

Resolution

Observations

There was concern about reports of illegal exploitation of the country's natural resources, which was being investigated by an expert panel. The Council was also concerned about the ongoing fighting in the country, particularly the renewed fighting between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani and their failure to comply with their obligations under the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. It regretted the delay in implementing the agreement and the lack of co-operation by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with mediation efforts. Furthermore, it was alarmed about the humanitarian situation in the country and its impact upon the civilian population, and violations of human rights in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation in the country continued to constitute a threat to peace and security in the region.[3]

Acts

Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, all parties were called upon to cease hostilities and respect the Ceasefire Agreement. The resolution condemned fighting between Rwanda, Uganda, Congolese opposition and other armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a gross violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.[4] It further demanded that Rwanda and Uganda immediately withdraw; that it be reciprocated by other parties to the conflict; and activity by foreign forces immediately end.[5] All offensive actions were prohibited during the process of disengagement and withdrawal of forces, in addition to co-operating with armed groups. No timetable for withdrawal was set.[6] The Secretary-General Kofi Annan was requested to keep the arrangements for the deployment of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) under review.

The Council welcomed efforts by the parties to engage in a dialogue on disarmament, demobilisation, resettlement and reintegration of members of all armed groups. Meanwhile, it condemned all massacres carried out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure access to humanitarian aid agencies. It expressed the view that the governments of Rwanda and Uganda should make reparations for the loss of life and the property damage they had caused in Kisangani.[7]

The resolution concluded by reaffirming the importance of holding a conference on peace and security in the Great Lakes region under the auspicies of the United Nations and Organisation of African Unity, and expressed its intention to consider the imposition of measures if the parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not comply with the current resolution.

See also

References
  1. "Security Council demands that Ugandan and Rwandan forces withdraw immediately from Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo". United Nations. 16 June 2000.
  2. "UN tells armies to quit Congo". BBC News. 17 June 2000.
  3. Evans, Malcolm D.; Kritsiotis, Dino (2001). "II. Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda): Provisional Measures". International and Comparative Law Quarterly. Cambridge University Press. 50: 662–670. doi:10.1093/iclq/50.3.662.
  4. Gazzini, Tarcisio (2005). The changing rules on the use of force in international law. Manchester University Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-7190-7325-0.
  5. Nzongola-Ntalaja, Georges (2002). The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: a people's history. Zed Books. p. 277. ISBN 978-1-84277-053-5.
  6. "Foreign forces ordered out of the Democratic Republic of Congo". RTÉ. 17 June 2000.
  7. Clément, Jean A. P. (2004). Postconflict economics in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. International Monetary Fund. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-58906-252-8.
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