UN Security Council should act on FDLR report

The Group of Experts appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, has delivered on its mandate, producing a report that seems to be well-researched and detailed in its accusations against those giving support to the rebel outfit, FDLR. A response from the UN Security Council on this report will determine how global public opinion will view its credibility and impartiality. The report questions the credibility by the UN mission in Congo (MONUC) over its handling of the crisis in Eastern DRC. The most shocking is the reported complicity by MONUC in offering FDLR succour in one way or another. What is equally damning is that several European capitals are listed as safe havens, sheltering the FDLR top brass and used as conduits to give the militia a lifeline to sustain operations in the Great Lakes region. Several issues have converged in this report to form a picture of how numerous parties have helped to keep FDLR actively committing crimes against the people of the DRC. Time has now come for the global body to sort out this menace once and for all. The report should be a basis for immediate action. Otherwise it will be meaningless to offer lip service and other forms of diplomacy such as the extension of MONUC’s mandate, as it offers no credible solutions. The world is anxiously waiting for a response from the global body. Africans in particular, are waiting for the time when the UN system will walk the talk and indeed when Eastern DRC will enjoy sustainable peace. Ends

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UN Security Council should act on FDLR report