The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is at a critical juncture. In the capital of Kinshasa, a transitional government has been established in an effort to pave the way toward political stability and democratic elections. In the east, the French-led International Emergency Multinational Force (IEMF) has deployed to Bunia to help protect the civilian population there. Finally, the IEMF is preparing to turn over its military role to an enhanced, more robust MONUC (UN Organization Mission in the DRC) on September 1, 2003. The 3,800 person force in Ituri will, for the first time in MONUC’s history, deploy with a Chapter VII mandate.

Refugees International representative Cliff Bernath will travel to the DRC on August 14 and remain there through the transition period from the IEMF to MONUC. He will be joined during the mission by RI President Ken Bacon. Together with RI consultant Nigel Pearson, the team will gather lessons learned from the IEMF deployment and assess the transition to MONUC control. The team will also assess the overall humanitarian situation in Ituri and the Kivus, and the degree to which the peacekeeping deployment has improved humanitarian access and conditions for the local population.