Monday, December 22, 2008

Eastern Congo Is Top Priority For UN Peacekeepers

Renegate general Laurent Nkunda makes a point as he speaks with the International Press in the mountains of North Kivu, in November 10, 2008. A 17,000-strong peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is no longer equal to the task after a recent upsurge in fighting, a top United Nations official said on Wednesday. (AFP/File/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

From Yahoo News/AP:

UNITED NATIONS – The Security Council on Monday condemned a rebel offensive in eastern Congo that has driven tens of thousands from their homes, while rebels threatened to quit peace talks over what they claimed were truce violations by the government.

In a resolution adopted unanimously, the council also revised the mandate of U.N. peacekeepers to focus on the crisis in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. The force is authorized to have 22,000 soldiers and police.

Read more ....

My Comment: It would take more than 22,000 soldiers and police to start making a dent in the ongoing civil war in the region. Unfortunately .... no one is interested in upping their commitment to the U.N., and both sides in the Congo conflict know that.

Another example of the U.N. being all bluster .... but no meat.

No comments: