United Nations -
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is seeking additional resources to strengthen the peacekeeping force in Congo with “intervention” troops, night-vision equipment, surveillance drones with cameras, and enhanced river patrols.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters Wednesday that Ban sent a letter to the Security Council on December 27 outlining the proposals, which are aimed at improving the protection of civilians from armed groups in Congo's vast mineral-rich eastern region. The area has been engulfed in fighting since the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
UN diplomats said Ban is expected to send a report to the council later in january with specific recommendations for additional troops - possibly as many as 2 000 - that would actively intervene, for example, to prevent another takeover of the key eastern city of Goma. - Sapa-AP