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The Democratic Republic of Congo: Envisaged EU military operation in support of MONUC

Summary: The Democratic Republic of Congo: Envisaged EU military operation in support of MONUC (Brussels: 3 April 2006)

Background Press Briefing: Tuesday 4 April 2006 at 14.30

A background press briefing on the EU's support for the transition process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and on the envisaged EU military operation in support of MONUC during the electoral period will be held on Tuesday, 4 April 2006 at 14.30 (EU Council press centre, Justus Lipsius Building, main press briefing room).

The briefing will be given by EU Special Representative for the African Great Lakes region Aldo Ajello and other Council senior officials. It will offer an opportunity to address the electoral process and the broader political context of the envisaged operation as well as the EU's multifaceted and longstanding engagement in support of DRC transition.


On 23 March, the Council approved the concept for a possible EU support to the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) during the electoral process and decided to start military planning and preparation on that basis. Planning for police support will also be pursued.

Following a UN request, the EU operation, will aim to provide timely and focused support to MONUC. The concept foresees notably:


The Council took note of the availability of an EU OHQ (Operation Headquarters) in Potsdam (Germany) for the planning and command of the military operation. The mission will be genuinely European and multinational, with many Member States having expressed their willingness to participate, several of them through the provision of troops.

Success of the elections is important not only for the Congolese population. It will have a major impact for peace and development in the region of the Great Lakes and Africa as a whole. Although a stable and secure environment for the elections is first and foremost the responsibility of the DRC Transitional National Government, supported by MONUC, the EU is ready to contribute to it.

The EU is deeply engaged for the transition in the DRC, through economic aid, political support as well as police and security sector reform missions under the European security and defence policy. In 2003, the EU conducted the military operation "Artemis" in Bunia, Eastern DRC, already on the basis of a UN request.



  • Ref: CL06-086EN
  • EU source: Council
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 3/4/2006


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European Union Member States