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'Elite troops' needed in DR Congo 'Elite troops' needed in DR Congo
(about 2 hours later)
The 3,000 extra UN troops being sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo need to be elite soldiers from Europe, the UN's ex-peacekeeping chief says.The 3,000 extra UN troops being sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo need to be elite soldiers from Europe, the UN's ex-peacekeeping chief says.
Jean-Marie Guehenno told the BBC there was an urgent need for an effective international force in the east.Jean-Marie Guehenno told the BBC there was an urgent need for an effective international force in the east.
He said an offer from Europe would send a powerful signal to the opposing forces whose conflict has displaced some 250,000 people in recent weeks.He said an offer from Europe would send a powerful signal to the opposing forces whose conflict has displaced some 250,000 people in recent weeks.
The UN already has its largest peace mission - 17,000 strong - in DR Congo.The UN already has its largest peace mission - 17,000 strong - in DR Congo.
But less than 1,000 of these are currently deployed within the region where clashes between the army and rebels led by Gen Laurent Nkunda have created a humanitarian crisis. But less than 1,000 of these are currently deployed around Goma city, where clashes between the army and rebels led by Gen Laurent Nkunda have created a humanitarian crisis.
See detailed map of the area See detailed map of the area
Diplomats admit they do not know where the 2,785 extra troops and 300 police officers the UN Security Council has decided to send, will come from, or when they will be sent. Diplomats admit they do not know where the 2,785 extra troops and 300 police officers will come from, or when they will be sent.
The Security Council voted on Thursday for the peacekeepers to implement their mandate "in full", through robust rules of engagement. The UN Security Council voted on Thursday for the extra troops and also for the peacekeepers to implement their mandate "in full", through robust rules of engagement.
It's going to be a test of whether the Europeans see Africa as a strategic issue for Europe Jean-Marie GuehennoFormer UN peacekeeping chief Rebels rewrite Congo's history But Mr Guehenno said it was of the utmost importance that the troops should be sufficiently resourced. It's going to be a test of whether the Europeans see Africa as a strategic issue for Europe Jean-Marie GuehennoFormer UN peacekeeping chief Rebels rewrite Congo's history
"The key issue is capacities and when the mission is challenged on several fronts, if you do not have enough resources you may have the best rules of engagement and you may improve them but at the end of the day you won't be able [to make] the difference that the people want you to make," he told the BBC's World Today programme. The Congolese government has welcomed the extra troops for Monuc - the UN mission in DR Congo, but demanded a stronger mandate.
Unless there was a commitment from Europe, troops were unlikely to be deployed quickly, the former head of UN peacekeeping operations said. The troops currently have a Chapter Seven mandate - which diplomats describe as robust as it allows peacekeepers to protect the civilian population and themselves - but it also requires them to work with national army - currently in a state of disarray.
"It needs a mandate that is a lot more appropriate to the circumstances on the ground," Communications Minister Lamert Mende Omalanga told the AFP news agency.
Mr Guehenno told the BBC's World Today programme it was of the utmost importance that the troops should be sufficiently resourced.
The UN has been unable to contain the violence
And unless there was a commitment from Europe, troops were unlikely to be deployed quickly, the former head of UN peacekeeping operations said.
"It's going to be a test of whether the Europeans see Africa as a strategic issue for Europe, as important as Afghanistan - which for me it is - or whether they think it isn't," he said."It's going to be a test of whether the Europeans see Africa as a strategic issue for Europe, as important as Afghanistan - which for me it is - or whether they think it isn't," he said.
On Thursday, the European parliament urged the EU to send special forces to DR Congo.On Thursday, the European parliament urged the EU to send special forces to DR Congo.
Most of the UN troops in DR Congo are from India and Pakistan.Most of the UN troops in DR Congo are from India and Pakistan.
They were accused of not doing enough to halt the rebel advance but have stopped them taking the city of Goma - the largest in the region.They were accused of not doing enough to halt the rebel advance but have stopped them taking the city of Goma - the largest in the region.
The rebels withdrew from positions north of Goma on Wednesday to allow aid into the area. The move came after weekend talks with the UN envoy, Olusegun Obasanjo. Joint operations
Gen Nkunda has said he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide. BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says news of the extra troops and the improved relations between Rwanda and DR Congo have strengthened the hand of UN envoy Olusegun Obasanjo.
The presidents of the two countries are reported to be in regular phone contact, he says.
Some diplomats say Rwanda is at the heart of the crisis and the Congolese government has accused its neighbour of backing Gen Nkunda's forces - charges denied in Kigali.
But there are now plans for a joint verification mission to investigate the role of the former Rwandan Hutu forces living in the forests of eastern DR Congo, who participated in the Rwandan genocide, and for joint operations against these rebels.
Gen Nkunda has said he is fighting to protect his Congolese Tutsi community from attack by the Hutu rebels.
Mr Obasanjo is being supported by a nine-strong team including representatives of the African Union, United States and EU, as well as Rwanda and DR Congo.
The rebels withdrew from positions north of Goma on Wednesday to allow aid into the area. The move came after weekend talks with Mr Obasanjo.
Meanwhile, Congolese President Joseph Kabila is in Angola for talks.
Eyewitnesses say there are Angolan troops are on the ground in North Kivu, deployed to support Congolese army troops - allegations denied by Angolan officials.
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