New York, 17 Dec-(ANA)- More than 90 per cent of the nearly 17,500 United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are now deployed in the strife-torn east
of the vast country, including over 6,000 in North Kivu province which has seen
an upsurge of fighting between various rebels groups and the national army.
“The task that the blue helmets are fulfilling at this very moment is absolutely
vital,” General Babacar Gaye, military head of the UM Mission in DRC, said in
an update on the disposition of forces.
But he noted that while the number of troops in itself might seem impressive
“and creates expectations among the population,” it also creates a feeling of
dissatisfaction when compared to the huge size of the country.
“This dissatisfaction is felt by all those who make up this force when you
consider all the protective missions they would like to carry out,” he added.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on the prevention of
genocide Francis Deng is assessing whether the continued violence and massive
human rights abuses in North Kivu could amount to violations of the Genocide
Amnesty/Report