               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/1843 (2008)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               20 November 2008




               Resolution 1843 (2008)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6018th meeting, on
               20 November 2008
                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President concerning
               the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular resolutions 1794 (2007) and
               1756 (2007) and the statement of its President dated 29 October 2008
               (S/PRST/2008/40),
                     Expressing its strong support to the United Nations Organization Mission in
               the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in its efforts to restore peace in
               the Kivus and taking note of the letter addressed by the Secretary-General to the
               President of the Security Council dated 31 October 2008 (S/2008/703) requesting
               additional capacities for MONUC in order to ensure the effective implementation of
               its mandate,
                    Recalling that under resolution 1794 (2007) the mandate of MONUC expires
               on 31 December 2008 and looking forward to the report and recommendations of
               the Secretary-General regarding MONUC’s mandate and reconfiguration,
                     Reaffirming its commitment to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and
               political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
                    Reiterating its condemnation of the resurgence of violence in the eastern
               region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and demanding all parties to
               immediately respect a ceasefire,
                     Welcoming the appointment of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo
               by the Secretary-General as his Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and
               calling on all parties to the conflict to cooperate with him in finding an urgent
               political solution to the crisis,
                     Expressing its extreme concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation and
               in particular the targeted attacks against the civilian population, sexual violence,
               recruitment of child soldiers and summary executions, considering that this situation
               should be addressed as a matter of urgency,
                     Urging all parties to ensure timely, safe and unhindered access of all
               humanitarian actors and to comply fully with their obligations under international
               law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law,


08-61143 (E)
*0861143*

S/RES/1843 (2008)


                    Determining that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
               continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     1.   Decides to authorize, as recommended by the Secretary-General in his
               letter dated 31 October 2008 (S/2008/703), a temporary increase of MONUC’s
               authorized military strength by up to 2,785 military personnel, and the strength of
               its formed police unit by up to 300 personnel;
                     2.   Authorizes the immediate deployment of those additional capacities until
               31 December 2008 and expresses its intention to extend this authorization on the
               occasion of MONUC’s mandate renewal, underlining that the duration of stay of the
               additional forces will depend on the security situation in the Kivus;
                    3.    Stresses that this temporary increase in personnel aims at enabling
               MONUC to reinforce its capacity to protect civilians, to reconfigure its structure and
               forces and to optimize their deployment;
                      4.   Underscores the importance of MONUC implementing its mandate in
               full, including through robust rules of engagement;
                    5.  Emphasizes that MONUC will be reviewed in view of the recent
               developments by 31 December 2008;
                    6.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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