Europe has a leading role to play in DRC - says Alan Doss, UN Special Representative
Alan Doss the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a veteran UN "troubleshooter" having served as Special Representative in Liberia, and earlier Deputy-Special-Representative in Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone.
Current strength (31 March 2009)
18,431 total uniformed personnel, including 16,601 troops, 737 military observers, 1,093 police; 96
--What expectations do you have from the European Union for the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The European Union plays a big role in our work, as a contributor, and collectively the member states contribute more than 30 percent of the budget of UN peacekeeping. Secondly as individual member states and through the Union and the Commission they are also a contributer to cooperation, to financial aid and to humanitarian aid in the Congo. So a lot of this comes from Europe. But beyond, I think Europe has to play a leading role in a number of areas; reinforcement of state institutions in the Congo and reforms of the security sector, police and justice are all areas where Europe has been engaged. So I think Europe has an important role to play in the Congo and will continue to do so.
--Do you hope that the EU will eventually contribute troops?
I would very much like to see a European contingent, as a part of MONUC. That hasn't happened, but we have European staff officers and specialised units.
--How important is the rapprochement between Kinshasa and Kigali?
It is indispensable. The history of the past has overshadowed the present, but I think the decisions taken at the end of last year and subsequent implementation of various decisions by the two governments has helped enormously. I don't think it would have been possible to make progress without that.
--It is said that the militias in the DRC are regrading the situation as a business opportunity? Is it necessary to kick- start the economy?
Peace isn't exclusively dependent on that but I think, especially in the east it would help to have an economic revival and linking that intitiative to labour intensive public works at least to absorb some of the people until the economy can really take off. You know we are in that circle where you need security to get stability , you need stability to get economic recovery and then development. Of course over time, without development you will not have security or stability. We need to jump start the process. And I think in parallel to what we do on the security front, we need stabililisation support, both in terms of getting more police and judges in rural areas in the east, as well as getting the administration working. We also need help to rebuild the roads and employ young people.
--There is much focus on sexual violence in the DRC. Will it cease when there is peace?
We are certainly very conscious of this and the UN as a whole has a strategy on how to deal with the probem, including an effort to strengthen the police and so forth.
But in the first place you have to deal with the fact that there are armed groups outside the law and the security forces themseleves have to be properly disciplined and accountable. Without that it is difficult to end impunity. We also need other things, you need judges, courts, prisons and a series of things but you've got to start somewhere and I think that is where you should start.
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