UN Peacekeeping Leader Commends India and Other Troop Contributors in Congo Mission
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Synopsis
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of UN peacekeeping, expressed appreciation for India and other troop-contributing nations during a challenging period in the DRC, where violence has escalated and resulted in losses among peacekeepers.
Key Takeaways
- UN peacekeeping head praises India and troop contributors.
- Recent violence in DRC has resulted in peacekeeper casualties.
- Secretary-General calls for cessation of Rwandan support to M23.
- MONUSCO established to ensure safety and stability in DRC.
- External forces condemned for their involvement in the conflict.
United Nations, Jan 28 (NationPress) The head of peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, expressed gratitude towards India and other nations that have contributed troops to the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where three peacekeepers lost their lives last week.
The contingent of 1,114 Indian troops and 160 police personnel was reported safe after two South African and one Uruguayan peacekeepers were killed by the M23 rebel group, which has taken control of significant parts of the mineral-rich region.
Lacroix stated on Monday, "We sincerely admire the resilience, fortitude, determination, and commitment of our peacekeepers, the men and women dedicated to serving the political mission, and I want to extend this expression of gratitude to the troop-contributing nations."
"It’s extremely challenging for our peacekeepers, and naturally, it is quite demanding for our troop-contributing countries, and I deeply thank them for their support," he added.
La Croix, who serves as the under-secretary-general for peace operations, communicated via video from Damascus, where he was engaged in another UN mission.
He mentioned that he has been in contact with various ambassadors from the troop-contributing nations.
In the past, 21 Indian peacekeepers have perished while serving with MONUSCO, one of the most perilous UN operations, which has resulted in the deaths of approximately 290 peacekeepers.
Last Friday, two South African and one Uruguayan peacekeepers were killed in eastern DRC.
Moreover, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which operates a separate peacekeeping mission in the DRC, reported that three soldiers from Malawi and nine from South Africa were killed, as per Face of Malawi.
The recent surge in violence is attributed to neighboring Rwanda, whose forces have been accused of assisting the M23 rebel group.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Rwandan military to cease its support for M23 and withdraw from the DRC.
The Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday regarding the situation in the DRC and, in an unusual display of unity, issued a statement condemning the involvement of "external forces" in eastern DRC, a diplomatic reference to Rwanda.
The M23 group reportedly seized control of Goma, a key city in eastern DRC, which is abundant in minerals sought after by high-tech industries.
The group derives its name from a peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009, aimed at ending the rebellions in the country, which it claims has been violated.
The UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO from its French acronym, was established by the Security Council in 2010 to safeguard civilians and humanitarian personnel while supporting the DRC government's efforts to restore order in a nation ravaged by rebel factions.
(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)
