UN MISSIONS IN AFRICA MAKING PROGRESS ON NEW CHALLENGES, SAYS UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF

From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 12 Sep 2013 16:00:01 -0400
Subject: UN MISSIONS IN AFRICA MAKING PROGRESS ON NEW CHALLENGES, SAYS
UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN MISSIONS IN AFRICA MAKING PROGRESS ON NEW CHALLENGES, SAYS UN
PEACEKEEPING CHIEFNew York, Sep 12 2013 4:00PMThe head of United
Nations peacekeeping operations today highlighted the important
progress being made since the beginning of the year on tackling major
challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Sudan
and South Sudan.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous
opened a press briefing at Headquarters with comments on the DRC where
he said national forces (FARDC), with support from the UN peacekeeping
mission MONUSCO and its intervention brigade, were able to push the
M23 rebel group towards the north so it no longer presented a direct
threat to the city of Goma, in the vast country's eastern region, the
surrounding camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) or on the
mission's positions.

"The M23 has suffered casualties and that is the reason why they
pushed back to, presumably, lick their wounds," Mr. Ladsous said.
"MONUSCO has firmly strengthened its positions to be in a better
position to defend Goma and all the population in and around the
area."

He stressed, however, that the underlying causes of the conflict in
the country, and the Great Lakes overall, necessitates a political
solution.

Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Great Lakes Region, Mary
Robinson, and Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General's Special
Representative in the DRC and head of MONSUCO, spent about a week in
the region earlier this month to participate in the so-called Kampala
talks which have led to a resumption of talks between the M23 and the
Government.

Joined by their counterparts from the African Union, European Union
and the United States, the UN envoys also stressed the urgency of
steps forward in the implementation of the 11-nation Peace, Security
and Cooperation Framework signed earlier this year under UN auspices.

Mr. Ladsous also highlighted that the UN, through MONUSCO, is now a
full fledged member of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism
(EJVM), a technical body, comprising experts from both DRC and Rwanda
and those of the UN and African Union (AU), to address DRC-Rwanda
border security issues.

"I think we will be able to get a much clearer picture of what is
happening," the UN peacekeeping chief said in reference to accusations
of shellings across the border.

He also noted that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would be used for
observation purposes over the Kivus by the end of the year.

The progress being made in the DRC is due to be discussed at a special
event on the sidelines of the high-level opening of the General
Assembly on 23 September in New York, Mr. Ladsous said.

Turning to Mali, he said the phrase remains "so far, so good".

"We remain more than ever in full support of the efforts the
Government of Mali has announced whilst we are strengthening MINUSMA,"
Mr. Ladsous said using the acronym for the UN Multidimensional
Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country.

The Mission is currently at a strength of 5,201 soldiers on the ground
plus a little over 800 police officers with additional contingents due
to arrive from Asia, other parts of Africa and Latin America, he said.

Mr. Ladsous said the process of addressing the root causes of the
conflict are a "continuous effort but one that so far looks
promising." He noted however that this is only one stage in a
stabilization process in a country that since early 2012, has
witnessed a military coup d'état, renewed fighting between Government
forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by
radical Islamists.

In addition to the events in Mali, Mr. Ladsous stressed the need to
take into account the entire Sahel region which stretches from
Mauritania to Eritrea, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.

This regional perspective is also due to be discussed at a side event
on the margins of the General Assembly, he noted.

Mr. Ladsous said the situation in Sudan and South Sudan is a "yo-yo,
at one stage things get better but get worse again." Events are
currently in a positive phase following a successful meeting last week
between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and President Salva Kiir of
South Sudan.

"We hope that the border mechanism will contribute towards less
tension in that border area," Mr. Ladsous said, noting the importance
of the two countries to work together constructively on the
contentious topic of the future of the status of the territory of
Abyei.

Declining to say too much on Syria, Mr. Ladsous responded to a
question about a possible peacekeeping force in the country, saying
that the matter is "completely in the hands of the Security Council."

"A number of ideas have been mentioned but I have no sense that there
is a decision forthcoming," the UN peacekeeping chief said. "We are
under orders of the Council and if we are requested to do something,
we shall act accordingly."

In addition, Mr. Ladsous mentioned the UN force in Golan Heights
(UNDOF) which continues to be strengthened to full authorized levels.
Ireland has announced the deployment of a contingent to join UNDOF,
due to arrive this month.

In southern Lebanon, the situation remains "quiet", Mr. Ladsous said,
adding that the UN force there (UNIFIL) has "taken steps to have the
greatest awareness as possible and adjusting their posture
accordingly."Sep 12 2013 4:00PM
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