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Brazil's Santos Cruz to head UN's DR Congo mission | Brazil's Santos Cruz to head UN's DR Congo mission |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The UN has appointed a Brazilian general credited with bringing a Haiti slum under control to lead peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | The UN has appointed a Brazilian general credited with bringing a Haiti slum under control to lead peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
Gen Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz will lead 20,000 troops, including a new combat force charged with targeting rebels in the east of the country. | Gen Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz will lead 20,000 troops, including a new combat force charged with targeting rebels in the east of the country. |
This is the first time the UN has given an offensive mandate to its troops. | This is the first time the UN has given an offensive mandate to its troops. |
Gen Santos Cruz told the BBC his troops would be trained to consider civilians and private property in DR Congo. | Gen Santos Cruz told the BBC his troops would be trained to consider civilians and private property in DR Congo. |
"The most critical area is nowadays the eastern part of the country," he told the BBC's Newsday programme. | |
"I am ready to face the most difficult of scenarios. The main objective is to relieve the suffering of the people." | "I am ready to face the most difficult of scenarios. The main objective is to relieve the suffering of the people." |
Gen Santos Cruz will be in charge of a new 2,500-strong brigade tasked with "neutralising and disarming" armed groups in the east of DR Congo. | Gen Santos Cruz will be in charge of a new 2,500-strong brigade tasked with "neutralising and disarming" armed groups in the east of DR Congo. |
The UN's existing peacekeeping force has been widely criticised as ineffective in ending the two-decade long war. | The UN's existing peacekeeping force has been widely criticised as ineffective in ending the two-decade long war. |
Troops from Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa are likely to form the bulk of the new brigade, which is expected to be deployed by July. | Troops from Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa are likely to form the bulk of the new brigade, which is expected to be deployed by July. |
Gen Santos Cruz is a retired former force commander of the Haiti mission, and is credited with dismantling criminal gangs in Haiti in 2007. | Gen Santos Cruz is a retired former force commander of the Haiti mission, and is credited with dismantling criminal gangs in Haiti in 2007. |
UN peacekeeping forces battled for more than a year to regain control of the large Cite Soleil slum in Port au Prince from the gangs. | UN peacekeeping forces battled for more than a year to regain control of the large Cite Soleil slum in Port au Prince from the gangs. |