After more than a decade of controversy over their presence, the United Nations has begun a discussion with the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to begin withdrawing its troops from the country. With over 20,000 active personnel in the DRC, the UN effort is the biggest peacekeeping mission in the world.
The United Nations sent troops in 1999 to assuage a conflict which involved six other countries, left an estimated 4 million people dead, and has been called “Africa’s WWI”. Though the fighting technically stopped in 2003, areas in the Eastern region of the Congo are still filled with rebel soldiers who continue to devastate the country. The UN’s peacekeeping mandate however, expires this May. Despite the ongoing problems, the Congolese government is asking that the troops be completely withdrawn in a year’s time.
Western news claims that the reasons are likely due to the fact that President Kabila of the DRC is up for reelection and doesn’t want the peacekeepers to bring negative attention. Just last year, UN troops were accused of committing sex abuse, gold smuggling, and fleeing from rebel soldiers. The Congo would like for the withdrawal to be announced before June 30th, when it celebrates 50 years of independence, but the UN Security Council plans to debate the mission’s mandate next month. It’s difficult to tell whether or not peacekeeping troops are a benefit or a threat to the Congo’s political stability, yet no one wants to see the country fall back into the tragedies of previous years. What do you think?
Written by: Ashley Ellis
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sad that there always has to be something going on in Africa!
It is sad that the main reason Congo wants the UN troops out is because of the negative attention the election may receive. To me this just goes to show the President wants people out of his business…definitely a bad look! He is probably waiting to let loose. I pray for the people of Congo!
S.
this is a difficult situation all around. ten years is long enough in a place like that for those troops to become corrupt – in which case – they’re no longer doing their job. but on the other hand, it would be tragic if the rebels gain any more ground in their absence. how hard could it be to take out some underfunded and barely weaponized rebels? that’s why it sounds fishy to me.
yah, it’s ALWAYS politic related
Sounds like a tough situation, it doesn’t sound like the officials from Congo are asking for a troop withdrawal for the right reasons, and then on the other hand the UN troops may not be producing more good as opposed to adding to the problems of the individuals living in the Congo…will definately be interested to know what the UN council ends up deciding on this issue!