MONUSCO facts for kids

Quick facts for kids MONUSCO
MONUSCO deployment in September 2019
Org type	Peacekeeping mission
Status	Active
Headquarters	Kinshasa, DR Congo
Subsidiary org(s)	Force Intervention Brigade

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO, an acronym based on its French name Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo, is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279 (1999) and 1291 (2000) to monitor the peace process of the Second Congo War, though much of its focus subsequently turned to the Ituri conflict, the Kivu conflict and the Dongo conflict. The mission was known as the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo or MONUC, an acronym of its French name Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo, until 2010.

The following nations (in alphabetical order) have contributed with military personnel: Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, the Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Yemen and Zambia.

In addition, the following nations have contributed with police personnel: Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guinea, Jordan, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yemen.

The initial UN presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, before the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1291, was a force of military observers to observe and report on the compliance on factions with the peace accords, a deployment authorised by the earlier UNSCR 1258 (1999). UNSCR 2556 (2020) provides the authority for the current MONUSCO mandate.

About US$8.74 billion was spent to fund the MONUC peacekeeping effort during 1999 to 2010. As of October 2017^[update], the total strength of UN peacekeeping troops in DRC is approximately 18,300. More than thirty nations have contributed military and police personnel for peacekeeping effort, with India being the single largest contributor.

History

The origin of this second United Nations military presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is found in the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement on 17 July 1999 and the following United Nations Security Council Resolution 1258 of 6 August 1999, authorizing the deployment of a maximum of 90 officers.

The first liaison officers arrived in the DRC on 3 September 1999. In November 1999 the number of liaison officers totaled 55, distributed in the capitals of the warring countries (Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia) including 24 who were stationed in Kinshasa. In January 2000 they reached the number of 79 and they were spread over the whole territory of DRC. Their mission was to liaise with all the warring factions, give a technical assistance and prepare the deployment of military observers.

Organization

The headquarters of the mission are in Kinshasa, DRC. The mission views the DRC as consisting of 6 sectors, each with its own staff headquarters. In 2005-6 the Eastern Division however was formed at Kisangani and took over brigades in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, along with two or three of the Sector HQs.

The approved budget for MONUC, from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008, is US$1.16 billion, the largest for any current UN peacekeeping operation.

Force commanders

Locations of MONUC units as of December 2009

Sector headquarters

• MONUSCO HQ: Kinshasa
• Sector 1: Mbandaka
• Sector 2 and Eastern Division HQ: Kisangani
• Sector 3: Kananga
• Sector 4: Kalemie
• Sector 5: Kindu
• Sector 6: Bunia

Force numbers and fatalities

In July 2004 there were 10,531 UN soldiers under MONUC's command. On 1 October 2004, the UN Security Council decided to deploy 5,900 more soldiers to Congo, although UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had asked for some 12,000.

On 25 February 2005, nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed by members of the Nationalist and Integrationist Front militia in Ituri province. The FNI killed another Nepali peacekeeper and took seven captive in May 2006. Two of the seven were released in late June and the UN was trying to secure the release of the remaining five. By November 2005, MONUC consisted of 16,561 uniformed troops. On 30 July 2006, MONUC forces were charged with keeping the 2006 general election—the first multiparty election in the DRC since 1960—peaceful and orderly. MONUC troops began patrolling areas of eastern DRC after armed clashes broke on 5 August following the chaotic collection of election results. The UN command is also arranging different training programmes and competitions in Congo for both Congo and international forces. A similar shooting competition was held between troops from all international forces and was won by a Pakistani infantry battalion.

Total strength, on 31 October 2007 was 18,407 uniformed personnel, including 16,661 troops, 735 military observers, 1,011 police, who were supported by 931 international civilian personnel, 2,062 local civilian staff and 585 United Nations Volunteers.

The UN has recorded a total of 161 fatalities among MONUC personnel, up to 1 July 2010, as follows: 100 military personnel, 10 military observers, 6 UN police, 12 international civilians, and 30 local civilians.

Staff and forces

On 31 October 2007 MONUC had a total of 18,407 uniformed personnel, including 16,661 troops, 735 military observers, 1,011 police, who were supported by 931 international civilian personnel, 2,062 local civilian staff and 585 United Nations Volunteers. As of June 2022, major troop contributors, in order of total number of military personnel are Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal, Indonesia, and Morocco (nearly 10,000).

On 20 November 2008, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to reinforce MONUC with 3,085 more peacekeepers to deal with trouble in the 2008 Nord-Kivu conflict. They voted after 44 organizations, led by the French Foreign Ministry, petitioned the council to send reinforcements to stabilize the region.

As of 31 August  2011 (2011 -08-31)^[update] MONUSCO forces included 19,084 uniformed personnel, out of which 16,998 were military personnel, 743 were military observers and 1,343 were police (including formed units). In addition the forces included 983 international civilian personnel, 2,828 local civilian staff and 600 UN volunteers.

Command staff

Ukraine aviation unit flight reconnaissance mission over North Kivu.

The names of the MONUSCO command staff are as follows:

• In January 2021, Bintou Keita was appointed to lead MONUSCO and to be the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to the DRC.
  • 2018–21: Leila Zerrougui ( Algeria)
  • 2015–17: Maman Sambo Sidikou ( Niger)
  • 2013–15: Martin Kobler ( Germany)
  • 2010–13: Roger A. Meece ( United States)
  • 2007–10: Alan Doss ( United Kingdom)
  • 2003–07: William L. Swing ( United States)
  • 2001–03: Amos Namanga Ngongi ( Cameroon)
  • 1999–2001: Kamel Morjane ( Tunisia)
• Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General: Abdallah Wafy ( Niger)
• Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General: Kim Bolduc ( Canada)
• Force Commander: Lieutenant General Derrick Mgwebi ( South Africa)
• Police Commissioner: Général Pascal Champion ( France)

Contributing countries

As of 31 March  2022 (2022 -03-31)^[update], the total number of personnel in the mission is 14,789:

Country	Police	Experts	Troops and staff officers	Total
Algeria	0	2	0	2
Bangladesh	190	7	1,630	1827
Belgium	0	0	1	1
Benin	24	2	5	31
Bhutan	0	0	0	0
Bolivia	0	4	1	5
Botswana	0	0	3	3
Burkina Faso	21	2	3	26
Brazil	0	1	22	23
Cameroon	5	4	1	10
Canada	9	0	8	17
Chad	12	0	0	12
China	0	7	222	229
Côte d'Ivoire	29	0	0	29
Czech Republic	0	2	0	2
Denmark	0	0	2	2
Djibouti	25	0	0	25
Egypt	346	7	4	357
France	1	0	4	5
Gambia	3	0	2	5
Ghana	8	11	8	27
Guatemala	0	0	155	155
Guinea	26	0	1	27
India	133	17	1,890	2040
Indonesia	4	7	1,030	1051
Ireland	0	0	3	3
Jordan	209	4	7	220
Kenya	5	3	259	267
Madagascar	1	0	0	1
Malawi	0	3	744	747
Malaysia	0	4	2	6
Mali	23	4	0	27
Mongolia	0	2	0	2
Morocco	2	3	918	923
Nepal	11	11	1,141	1163
Niger	20	1	4	25
Nigeria	1	4	2	7
Norway	0	0	1	1
Pakistan	0	14	1,961	1975
Paraguay	0	5	2	7
Peru	0	5	1	6
Philippines	0	0	2	2
Poland	0	2	0	2
Romania	15	4	4	23
Russia	9	6	4	19
Senegal	437	2	5	444
Serbia	0	0	1	1
Sierra Leone	0	0	2	2
South Africa	0	4	948	952
Sweden	4	0	0	4
Switzerland	1	0	1	2
Tanzania	16	1	849	866
Togo	28	0	0	28
Tunisia	27	1	9	37
Turkey	9	0	0	9
Ukraine	3	7	255	265
United Kingdom	0	0	6	6
United States	0	0	3	3
Uruguay	0	6	828	828
Zambia	0	3	3	6
Zimbabwe	0	0	3	3
Totals	1,657	172	12,960	14789

Civilians

International civilian employees and volunteers, and DRC nationals: 2,636

• International Employees: 816
• United Nations Volunteers: 482
• DRC nationals: 1,338

See also

• Ituri conflict
• Kivu conflict
• Second Congo War
• United Nations Operation in the Congo