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UN starts drone surveillance in DR Congo UN starts drone surveillance in DR Congo
(about 4 hours later)
The UN mission in Democratic Republic of Congo has started to deploy unarmed surveillance drones to monitor rebel activity near the forested borders with Rwanda and Uganda.The UN mission in Democratic Republic of Congo has started to deploy unarmed surveillance drones to monitor rebel activity near the forested borders with Rwanda and Uganda.
This is the first time any UN mission has deployed drones.This is the first time any UN mission has deployed drones.
The first two were launched from the eastern city of Goma, which was last year briefly occupied by M23 rebels.The first two were launched from the eastern city of Goma, which was last year briefly occupied by M23 rebels.
The UN force in DR Congo played a key role last month in defeating the M23 but other militias still operate.The UN force in DR Congo played a key role last month in defeating the M23 but other militias still operate.
The BBC's Maud Jullien in eastern DR Congo says it has long been suspected that various armed groups in the North Kivu province get their supplies from neighbouring countries.The BBC's Maud Jullien in eastern DR Congo says it has long been suspected that various armed groups in the North Kivu province get their supplies from neighbouring countries.
Both Rwanda and Uganda have denied repeated accusations that they supported the M23 rebels, which were recently defeated with the help of the 22,000-strong UN mission in DR Congo - the world's largest.Both Rwanda and Uganda have denied repeated accusations that they supported the M23 rebels, which were recently defeated with the help of the 22,000-strong UN mission in DR Congo - the world's largest.
UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the BBC that the drones, or "unarmed, unmanned aerial vehicles" would be the "tool of choice" to monitor the activities of armed groups and the movement of civilians.UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the BBC that the drones, or "unarmed, unmanned aerial vehicles" would be the "tool of choice" to monitor the activities of armed groups and the movement of civilians.
"We need to get a better picture of what is happening," he said."We need to get a better picture of what is happening," he said.
He said that if they were successful in DR Congo, they could also be used in other UN peacekeeping missions.He said that if they were successful in DR Congo, they could also be used in other UN peacekeeping missions.
The first two drones were made by an Italian firm, Selex ES, a subsidiary of the Italian giant Finmeccanica, reports the AFP news agency. UN force commander in DR Congo Alberto Dos Santos Cruz told the BBC the drones would only fly over Congolese territory, as they have no mandate to operate in neighbouring countries.
UN officials expect three more drones to be deployed in the coming months. The drones are made by an Italian firm, Selex ES, a subsidiary of the Italian giant Finmeccanica.
UN officials expect three more to be deployed in the coming months - one by the end of December and two more by the end of March 2014.
They will be deployed across North Kivu, which has been one of the areas worst affected by two decades of conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo.They will be deployed across North Kivu, which has been one of the areas worst affected by two decades of conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo.
They have a range of 250km (155 miles) from their base in Goma. They have a range of 250km (155 miles) from their base in Goma. Technicians say other bases could easily be set up, which would allow for a broader surveillance.
Congolese Defence Minister Alexandre Luba Ntambo says the drones will help the army against rebel groups.Congolese Defence Minister Alexandre Luba Ntambo says the drones will help the army against rebel groups.
"Once we know exactly where they are hiding, our operations will be much more efficient," he said."Once we know exactly where they are hiding, our operations will be much more efficient," he said.
Despite the defeat of the M23, numerous other armed groups still roam eastern DR Congo, including the FDLR, whose leaders are accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.Despite the defeat of the M23, numerous other armed groups still roam eastern DR Congo, including the FDLR, whose leaders are accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.