What are the UN peacekeepers doing?published at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, AFPSoldiers from the UN’s peacekeeping force wear can be distinguished by their bright blue helmets
A UN peacekeeping mission has been in place since 1999. The current force – known as Monusco – is made up of more than 10,000 troops.
However, of these, only the Force Intervention Brigade is allowed to carry out offensive operations against armed groups. It was this force that helped defeat the M23 in 2013.
Monusco has been the target of anger from ordinary Congolese who see it as failing to do its job. President Félix Tshisekedi, deeming the mission a failure, had asked it to leave by the end of last year.
But the departure was delayed and in December, the mission was extended for another year.
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc), a regional grouping of 16 countries, has also deployed a military force to eastern DR Congo, but it has been unable to halt the rebel advance.
South Africa said nine of its soldiers had been killed while deterring the rebel advance on Goma.
Three Malawian soldiers have also been killed, the UN said, while Uruguay’s army said one of its soldiers – as part of Monusco – had died.
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