EU Plan to Contain Violence in Congo Unclear
June 9, 2004
After wrapping up a trip to Kinshasa, the capital of the troubled Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said the EU was considering sending a peacekeeping force to the region -- akin to the French-led force sent earlier this year -- to help contain the latest outbreak of fighting in the eastern city of Bukavu. He claimed the EU foreign ministers would discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.
However, shortly after the Belgian minister made these comments, diplomats in Brussels appeared to be scratching their heads and said that the EU was considering nothing of the sort. In an interview with the Reuters news agency, one Brussels diplomat accused Michal of "freelancing".
At best, according to the same Reuters report, the EU may send 12 small teams of ceasefire monitors if a truce is agreed. But, altogether, that would amount to fewer than 100 people, significantly less than the more than the more than 1,100 troop strong French-led force -- including several hundred German soldiers functioning in supporting roles -- sent earlier this year.
Trying to hammer out a truce
As it remained unclear whether or not the EU would send in a sizeable force, the United Nations continued to struggle to establish a truce after they lost control of the eastern city of Bukavu to rival factions over the weekend.
Two South African peacekeepers were killed in the violence over the weekend, which continued early in the week. Troops loyal to two Tutsi military leaders came into conflict with the region's army commander, Brig. Gen. Mbuza Mabe, and took control of the city. Meanwhile, thousands took to the streets to protest the inability of the UN to maintain order.
Following the return of relative calm on Tuesday, UN leaders began negotiations with the rebel leaders, which resulted in one, Brig. Gen. Laurent Nkunda, agreeing to drop his demand that the government replace Mabe as leader of the regional army.
Other African heads of state have called upon the UN to boost it's 10,800 troop strong force in the country. In a statement released after a meeting of the COMESA trade bloc of African countries in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, the leaders "urged the United Nations Security Council to deploy more peacekeepers to the area."
An ongoing conflict
The latest outbreak of violence has threatened the delicate peace and the authority of the transitional government, led by President Joseph Kabila, which took control of the country last June after five years of civil war.
The war is estimated to have claimed more than 3.3 million lives, with many dying as a result of disease and famine. Continued unrest in Congo could spark a wider regional conflict, something both the UN and EU officials are hoping to avoid.