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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 2 hours 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 most offensive mandate given to any UN peacekeeping force.
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."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 which have ravaged eastern DR Congo for the past two decades.
The UN's existing peacekeeping force has been widely criticised as ineffective in ending the two-decade long war. The most recent uprising, by the M23 rebels, began in 2012 and has led some 800,000 people to flee their homes in the mineral-rich region.
Both neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda have denied UN charges that they are supporting the M23.
The UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo, known as Monusco, has been widely criticised as ineffective.
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.