The proposed force is to combat and disarm armed militias in the east of the country.
The UN wants to set up an intervention force to fight rebels fuelling conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, the BBC quoted a UN official as saying last week. The official said the plan for the force was at an advanced stage, although it has yet to be approved by the Security Council.
UN officials say the intervention brigade will number about 2,550 soldiers and aims to prevent armed groups from seizing territory by weakening them through targeted operations. The Voice of America, VOA cited a UN peacekeeping official - who declined to be named - as saying the troops, in addition to protecting civilians, would also have quick reaction capabilities to take on rebels and an all armed groups to eventually disarm them.
The troops will operate under the overall UN umbrella, but will likely have more robust rules of engagement, Al Jazeera TV reported. Tanzania and South Africa are leading contenders to provide the first contingents for the special force to bolster the UN mission, diplomats said. As part of the plan, the UN will name a special envoy to the Great Lakes Region to assist with its implementation. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on January 24, 2013 authorised the use of surveillance drones or pilotless aircraft in eastern DRC.
A UN official said alongside the rapid reaction force, a broad political plan to bring stability to the Great Lakes Region was expected to be signed yesterday, January 28, 2013 on the side-lines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the leaders of the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Angola, the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Tanzania and South Africa.
The intervention brigade and the drones could be in operation within three months, a UN official suggested. The aircraft will mainly monitor the border with Rwanda that is accused by the UN of arming and financing the M 23 rebellion against the government. Rwanda denies the charge. The seemingly continuous conflict in the eastern DRC is fuelled by interference from neighbouring states, facilitated by the weakness of the Congolese army.
