AFRICA

In Angola, the United Nations Office in Angola continued its efforts to assist the Government and others concerned to end the war and maintain programmes of humanitarian relief and capacity-building in the field of human rights.

In Burundi, the United Nations Office in Burundi provided support for various initiatives aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation. In addition, the UN maintained a small United Nations Political Office for Somalia in Nairobi, Kenya.

The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) continued its key role in helping the two countries implement the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. Tasks included monitoring the ceasefire, verifying the redeployment of troops, establishing mine and unexploded ordnance clearance operations, as well as monitoring the Temporary Security Zone between the two countries.

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reached maximum authorized strength and deployed throughout the country. The ceasefire held, and over 34,000 combatants were disarmed from 18 May to mid-November under a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme. Sierra Leone police began deployment to the provinces and the army to border areas, but the pace of restoring government authority throughout the country remained slow. UNAMSIL is currently preparing to support national elections scheduled for May 2002.

In Western Sahara the UN has continued its search for ways to overcome the problems encountered in the implementation of the Settlement Plan to advance the peace process.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo the ceasefire remained in force, and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) entered phase III of its deployment in support of the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. The Security Council authorized the expansion of MONUC's civilian components to enable the mission to play a larger role, particularly in the political, humanitarian, human rights and child-protection areas. The parties are expected to engage in substantive discussions when the Inter-Congolese Dialogue resumes at the next venue in South Africa.

The three UN peace-building support offices worked in close cooperation with Governments and civil society. The United Nations Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA), the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) and the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Liberia (UNOL) continued efforts to create an enabling political environment for addressing the post-conflict priorities facing the three countries and their fragile democratic institutions. This included providing the political framework and leadership for integrating the peace-building activities of the UN country team, mobilizing international assistance, promoting national reconciliation and dialogue, strengthening local capacities for managing crises and promoting respect for human rights.

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