ONUC was established by SC resolution 143 in response to the first Congo crisis of 1960 that followed the Republic of Congo’s declaration of independence from Belgium (S/RES/143, para. 2). Although the SC was initially in agreement (sufficient to authorize ONUC and support its initial deployment), subsequent developments in the country and the perceived alignment of Congolese parties with different permanent members resulted in divided views on any further action.1 Two subsequent draft resolutions on support to the Congolese Government and withdrawal of Belgian troops were vetoed by the USSR on the grounds that they were biased in favour of Western powers (S/4523; S/4578/Rev.1).2
Specifically referring to the UFP resolution, the SC then passed a resolution in 1960 calling for an emergency special session in the GA, but also keeping the matter on the SC agenda (S/RES/157). In the subsequent 4th emergency special session, the GA reaffirmed the need to preserve the territorial integrity and political independence of the Congo and requested “vigorous action” by the Secretary-General in accordance with previous SC resolutions as well as all States to “refrain from action that might impede restoration of law and order” in the Congo or provide military assistance to the conflict parties (A/RES/1474(ES-IV)).3 It also called for the creation of a body to help Congolese factions resolve their “internal” conflict, a provision that had originally featured in one of the two draft resolutions (S/4523) vetoed by the USSR in the SC.4 The resolution assigned exclusive authority to manage the crisis to the UN.5 For further discussion of what this emergency special session signified in terms of GA authority with regard to peace operations, see the case study on ONUC, as well as the legal background material related to the Certain Expenses case.
Notes
- A key independence figure, Patrice Lumumba, who was perceived as aligned with the USSR, was initially elected as Prime Minister. Although there was also a leadership struggle between Lumumba and Joseph Kasavubu, the President, both were upended when army Colonel Joseph Mobutu (perceived as aligned with Western States) staged a coup d’état in September 1960. He subsequently ordered Soviet staff (who had been welcomed to provide technical assistance and supplies under the previous Government) out of the country. ↩︎
- See also: United Nations Office of Public Information, “Chapter VII relating to the situation in the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville)”, Yearbook of the United Nations, 1960, vol. 14 (United Nations publication, 1960), pp. 52–128. ↩︎
- The resolution was introduced by Ceylon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Republic and Yemen. It was adopted by 70 votes in favour and 11 abstentions. United Nations Office of Public Information, “Chapter VII relating to the situation in the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville)”, Yearbook of the United Nations, 1960, pp. 65–66; A/PV.863, p. 102. ↩︎
- See also, Eşref Aksu, “The UN in the Congo conflict: ONUC”, in The United Nations, intra-state peacekeeping and normative change (Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2003), p. 111. ↩︎
- Ibid., pp. 111–112. ↩︎