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UN 'failing' in Congo rebel fight | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
United Nations operations against Rwandan-Hutu rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been a failure, UN-mandated experts say. | United Nations operations against Rwandan-Hutu rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been a failure, UN-mandated experts say. |
The report, seen by the BBC, says the rebels continue to receive arms supplies and recruit fighters. | The report, seen by the BBC, says the rebels continue to receive arms supplies and recruit fighters. |
It says the UN has failed to stop the illegal trade in minerals and has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. | It says the UN has failed to stop the illegal trade in minerals and has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. |
The report is by the Group of Experts, mandated by the UN to probe violations of the arms embargo in DR Congo. | The report is by the Group of Experts, mandated by the UN to probe violations of the arms embargo in DR Congo. |
It states that the UN-backed military operation against Rwandan-Hutu rebels has failed to dismantle the organisation's political and military structure. | It states that the UN-backed military operation against Rwandan-Hutu rebels has failed to dismantle the organisation's political and military structure. |
Instead, these rebels - some of whose leaders were involved in the Rwandan genocide - have been able to use networks in Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and overseas in Europe and North America, to bolster their supply of arms and to recruit extra soldiers. | Instead, these rebels - some of whose leaders were involved in the Rwandan genocide - have been able to use networks in Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and overseas in Europe and North America, to bolster their supply of arms and to recruit extra soldiers. |
Gold and tin | Gold and tin |
The report says Rwandan fighters continue to enjoy support from senior members of the Congolese military who are supposed to be opposing them. | The report says Rwandan fighters continue to enjoy support from senior members of the Congolese military who are supposed to be opposing them. |
This militia, known as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), controls parts of the illegal trade in gold and tin, worth millions of dollars a year. | This militia, known as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), controls parts of the illegal trade in gold and tin, worth millions of dollars a year. |
class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8364327.stm">FDLR: Congo's multinational rebels class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8362524.stm">Congo gold 'still funding' rebels class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8353133.stm">In pictures: Behind rebel lines | |
The report says that former Rwandan-backed Congolese Tutsi rebels are operating as a parallel armed group, despite integrating with the national army. | The report says that former Rwandan-backed Congolese Tutsi rebels are operating as a parallel armed group, despite integrating with the national army. |
It adds that they have expanded their influence throughout the region under the command of Bosco Ntaganda, and unleashed a wave of killings, rapes and looting within the framework of the military operation. | It adds that they have expanded their influence throughout the region under the command of Bosco Ntaganda, and unleashed a wave of killings, rapes and looting within the framework of the military operation. |
Known as "the Terminator", Gen Ntaganda is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged forced enrolment of child soldiers in 2002-2003. | Known as "the Terminator", Gen Ntaganda is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged forced enrolment of child soldiers in 2002-2003. |
He formerly served in a Tutsi-dominated rebel militia, the Congress for the Defence of the People, but joined the national army at the beginning of this year. | He formerly served in a Tutsi-dominated rebel militia, the Congress for the Defence of the People, but joined the national army at the beginning of this year. |
The report found that Gen Ntaganda's men were deployed in some of the region's most lucrative mining areas, which they now control. | The report found that Gen Ntaganda's men were deployed in some of the region's most lucrative mining areas, which they now control. |
The UN experts have found that some companies, already named in a report last year, continue to work against UN sanctions. | The UN experts have found that some companies, already named in a report last year, continue to work against UN sanctions. |
The report says that significant amounts of gold are being trafficked throughout the region, particularly through Uganda and Burundi and then sold to individuals in the United Arab Emirates. | The report says that significant amounts of gold are being trafficked throughout the region, particularly through Uganda and Burundi and then sold to individuals in the United Arab Emirates. |
The Group of Experts recognises that there may well be a contradiction in the mandate of Monuc, the UN peacekeeping force in the DR Congo. | The Group of Experts recognises that there may well be a contradiction in the mandate of Monuc, the UN peacekeeping force in the DR Congo. |
They say it has to both protect civilians as well as back a military operation that has aggravated the humanitarian situation in eastern Congo. | They say it has to both protect civilians as well as back a military operation that has aggravated the humanitarian situation in eastern Congo. |