United Nations

NEW YORK, 5 May (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council demanded the immediate cessation of hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a presidential statement issued at its meeting this afternoon.  Expressing grave concern at renewed fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan forces, which began on 5 May 2000 in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council formally endorsed the statement made by its members on mission in Kinshasa calling for an immediate halt to the fighting.

The Council unreservedly condemned the outbreak of military hostilities in Kisangani, which threatened the Lusaka ceasefire agreement.  It also expressed concern about reported killing of innocent Congolese civilians. 

It called for those involved to reaffirm their commitment to the Lusaka process and to comply with all Council resolutions.  The violent action in Kisangani violated the Lusaka Agreement, the 8 April 2000 Kampala Disengagement Plan, the 14 April ceasefire, subsequent written instructions to field commanders, and the relevant Council resolutions, according to the statement.  The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The meeting was convened at 2:33 p.m. and adjourned at 2:38 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as document S/PRST/2000/15, reads, as follows:

The Security Council expresses its grave concern at renewed fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, which began on 5 May 2000.  The Council endorses the statement made by its Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 5 May 2000 in Kinshasa calling for an immediate halt to the fighting.

The Security Council condemns unreservedly the outbreak of military hostilities in Kisangani.  This renewed fighting is, once more, threatening the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement (S/1999/815).  The Council is also concerned by reports of the killing of innocent Congolese civilians.

The Security Council demands that these latest hostilities cease immediately and that those involved in the fighting at Kisangani reaffirm their commitment to the Lusaka process and comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions.  The Council reaffirms its commitment to the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Security Council considers that this violent action directly violates the Lusaka Agreement; the 8 April 2000 Kampala Disengagement Plan; the 14 April 2000 ceasefire; the subsequent written instructions to field commanders to abide by this ceasefire; and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter.