I. Introduction
- The present report is submitted pursuant to the statement by the President of the Security Council adopted on 19 October 2012 (S/PRST/2012/22) and Council resolution 2076 (2012) of 20 November 2012, in which the Council requested me to submit a special report on possible options and their implications for reinforcing the ability of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to implement its mandate. The report reviews the overall situation and the regional implications of the recent crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and presents recommendations to address the recurring cycles of violence there in a comprehensive and collective regional manner. It proposes a package of actions that are required at the national and the regional levels and makes recommendations on the support to be provided by the international community, including through reinforced political efforts by the United Nations and a strengthened MONUSCO.