Progress Report November 2009

Democratic Republic
of Congo
Full payment of the U.S. share of the UN peacekeeping mission

An overview of Ongoing conflict between the Congolese government led by President Joseph Kabila and
progress made on multiple rebel and militia groups has created widespread regional instability and a devastating
a select number of humanitarian crisis in which over 1 million people have been internally displaced, 45,000 die
monthly from conflict and disease, and sexual violence is at unprecedented levels.
actions recommended
by the InterAction Action Recommended November 2008
NGO community
in the 2008 Fully pay the U.S. share of the budget for the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC), and work to
Foreign Assistance improve the effectiveness of MONUC in protecting civilians from abuse.
Briefing Book on
Critical Problems,
Overall Progress as of November 2009
Recommendations, and Comments and Evidence: Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. permanent
Actions for the Obama representative to the United Nations, announced at a meeting at the
Administration and the UN Security Council, “The United States is now in a position to clear all
111th Congress. peacekeeping arrears accumulated from 2005 to 2008 and to meet our
obligations in full for 2009—currently estimated at approximately $2.2
billion.” With the FY 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill, the U.S.
cleared all uncontested arrears to its UN peacekeeping contributions
—including those for MONUC—and committed to paying the FY
2009 bill in full. Furthermore, the FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill that passed out of the House in early July will fully
fund U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping. The final Senate version
is expected to contain funding to do the same. In a speech in late June,
Phillip Carter III, principal deputy assistant secretary of state, Bureau
of African Affairs, pledged to continue to urge regional militaries
and MONUC to coordinate efforts in order to protect civilians. He
also pledged to continue to support international efforts to expand
MONUC’s ability to protect civilians in the DRC.

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