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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| French troops arrive in DR Congo |
| 2003-06-06 |
| Damm, that was fast: French troops have begun arriving in the town of Bunia in eastern Congo where hundreds have been killed in weeks of violence. People in Bunia shouted with joy as the troops drove into the town which has been the scene of several reported massacres. We'll see how long the cheering lasts. The soldiers are spearheading a 1,400-strong rapid reaction force being deployed under a special mandate from the United Nations to provide security and protect civilians. The officer in command of the forces told the BBC's Ishbel Matheson that the troops' first priority was to secure the airport. Four or five UK officers have also arrived to assist in investigating the risks and technical difficulties involved in deploying a multinational force to Bunia. Our correspondent says the soldiers arrived without warning, and that more are expected to touch down throughout the day. She says the presence of foreign troops may deter killing in Bunia, but elsewhere in the surrounding countryside in Ituri region the massacres are likely to continue. It's a given. The European Union ratified the sending of the force on Thursday - the first time EU peacekeeping troops have been deployed outside Europe. Lunch is now being served. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 Why only 2 flights/day,watcher? |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-06-07 08:14:08 |
| #6 I read this report and saw the pix...BFD. A few dozen guys in Land Rovers drive in unannounced from Uganda, catching the rebels unaware...right into the UN compound at Bunia Airport. Notice the "rebels" watching the parade...don't look too intimidated, do they? Gee, you brought us a few more "peacekeepers" to terrorise and hold hostage, how nice! At best, this is an advon team designed to provide Air Traffic Control and protect the first light transport in. But will this stop the killings even in the city, much less the countryside...hmmm...not yet. BTW, the UN has already assessed that Bunia can't handle more than 2 flights a day. The French say that because of this, it will take them 45 days to fully deploy 1400 troops (until say 20 July), and that they intend to have all their forces out of the county and the "peacekeeping" duties asumed by Bangladesh by 1 Sept (45 days after that). Does something seem wrong with the math here? |
| Posted by: Watcher 2003-06-06 22:10:46 |
| #5 Congo was Belgium's pride and joy. Read joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" for a flavour. Those Belgians showed us all! |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-06-06 19:30:37 |
| #4 I am happy to see the French take on the burden of the colonial mess they left behind. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-06-06 19:17:32 |
| #3 The guy in the article picture has a weapon, but how many paper pushers will have to give the nod before he's allowed to load it? |
| Posted by: (lowercase) matt 2003-06-06 15:31:29 |
| #2 Did the French take this before the UN?... just wondering... |
| Posted by: ----------<<<<- 2003-06-06 14:39:14 |
| #1 So the second stringers finally get their chance to show up the varsity squad. I guess the EU figures that if Iraq gave the US some international muscle, tnen Africa will do the same for the French, I mean, the EU. Unfortunately, I suspect the French, I mean the EU, has no idea what a complete fuck up of a continent Africa actually is - the many, many tribes simply don't like each other. Or maybe Chirac got one of those "please lets us deposit $20,000.00 millions in dollars US in your bank" e-mails and decided he wanted in on the ground floor. |
| Posted by: FormerLiberal 2003-06-06 11:19:38 |