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12/06/2003
British troops to join Congo peace-keeping force
Britain is set to contribute troops to an EU-led force which is being sent to one of Africa's bloodiest trouble-spots.
Adam Ingram, Minister for the Armed Forces, announced in the Commons today that Britain will be contributing an engineer detachment and Hercules transport aircraft. Mr Ingram described the commitment as a "modest, realistic and sustainable deployment," although the exact numbers of personnel needed will not be known until further analysis is made.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Ingram said: "The UK is wholly committed to supporting the United Nations peacekeeping effort in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Ituri Province and elsewhere good work has been done. But UN troops are faced with a new situation which they do not have the numbers to deal with.
He added: "We are clear that there can be no military solution to the problems in the region. The multinational force is an interim measure, deployed to help the UN with a limited and short-term mandate and will begin to withdraw when UN reinforcements arrive later in the summer."
The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan requested the creation of a multinational force to stabilise the capital of Bunia, amid fears that there will be more killings in the long-running rivalry between Hemas and Lendus ethnic groups.
France will provide the military commander and the majority of the force. A number of EU-member states and non-EU nations are also likely to contribute. The mission has been sent to stabilise the Ituri Province, and assist the wider discussions in Kinshasa on the establishment of a Transitional National Government.
France has already sent 120 special forces into the area on top of 700 soldiers already deployed to Uganda earlier this week.
It has been estimated that 50,000 people have been killed in inter-tribal warfare in the country in recent years.
(GMcG)
Adam Ingram, Minister for the Armed Forces, announced in the Commons today that Britain will be contributing an engineer detachment and Hercules transport aircraft. Mr Ingram described the commitment as a "modest, realistic and sustainable deployment," although the exact numbers of personnel needed will not be known until further analysis is made.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Ingram said: "The UK is wholly committed to supporting the United Nations peacekeeping effort in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Ituri Province and elsewhere good work has been done. But UN troops are faced with a new situation which they do not have the numbers to deal with.
He added: "We are clear that there can be no military solution to the problems in the region. The multinational force is an interim measure, deployed to help the UN with a limited and short-term mandate and will begin to withdraw when UN reinforcements arrive later in the summer."
The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan requested the creation of a multinational force to stabilise the capital of Bunia, amid fears that there will be more killings in the long-running rivalry between Hemas and Lendus ethnic groups.
France will provide the military commander and the majority of the force. A number of EU-member states and non-EU nations are also likely to contribute. The mission has been sent to stabilise the Ituri Province, and assist the wider discussions in Kinshasa on the establishment of a Transitional National Government.
France has already sent 120 special forces into the area on top of 700 soldiers already deployed to Uganda earlier this week.
It has been estimated that 50,000 people have been killed in inter-tribal warfare in the country in recent years.
(GMcG)
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