UN troop deployment approved. (PeaceWatch: Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Stressing again the importance of the demilitarization of Kisangani to the overall peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council on 9 November supported the deployment of UN troops in the eastern part of the country as part of phase Ill of the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement. Welcoming the withdrawal of some foreign forces from the country, including the Namibian contingent, as a positive step towards the pull-out of all foreign forces, it requested all concerned States to do the same.

The Council called on the Congolese factions to work together for the success of the inter-Congolese dialogue, expressing its support for the Facilitator and his call to make the talks fully inclusive. It was gravely concerned by the repeated human rights violations throughout the territory, in particular those under the control of the rebel groups party to the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, and called on all parties to put an end to such abuses.

Stressing that progress in the peace process and economic recovery were interdependent, the Council called for renewed international aid to boost the economy. Condemning all illegal exploitation of natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council demanded that such exploitation to finance the conflict cease.

The head of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Amos Namanga Ngongi, on 14 November said the Council resolution provided the UN operation with a road map that would guide its actions in the coming months. He said MONUC would send an appropriate military force to Kisangani "to ensure that the peacefulness of the population is not disturbed by hostile attacks once demilitarization is completed", and that it planned to train hundreds of police officers who would help maintain public security.