KINSHASA, Nov 01, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will deploy a new force in days to come in the troubled west African country in support of the government army to contain conflicts, the head of the mission announced on Friday.
Alan Doss, head of the UN peacekeeping mission known as MONUC, made the announcement during his stay in the eastern town of Goma, the provincial capital of |North Kivu. He said the force will be deployed at the initiative of the member countries of the UN Security Council.
Doss, who was accompanied by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer and ambassadors of several member countries of the UN Security Council, said he and his delegation were in Goma to evaluate the humanitarian situation.
MONUC "will provide its support so that the cease-fire is respected," Doss said, adding that the Nairobi Declaration and the Amani Program remain the only means of rule to ease the situation in the east of the DRC. The two documents were signed respectively in November 2007 and April 2008 as a roadmap to peace in the restive east of the country.
The rebel National Congress for People's Defense launched an offensive in Noth Kivu several days ago, approaching Goma before announcing a unilateral cease-fire amid international pressure.