{Considering the growing need of military intelligence for successful and effective peacekeeping operations, UN Military Peacekeeping Missions deployed in the conflict-hit Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have sought establishment of a ´Military Intelligence Fund´ at the earliest. }
Citing the tensed and complicated security situation in DR Congo, the missions under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Missions in DR Congo (MONUSCO) have drawn the attention of the UN headquarters to set up the fund. “It is important to strengthen the intelligence to fight the rebels and forces inimical to peace in eastern part of DR Congo,” Chief Political Officer Leocadie Nahisha of MONUSCO Sub-headquarters at Mavivi in the Kivu Province told Nepali delegates.
Nahisha informed that concerned authorities are positive about setting up ´Military Intelligence Fund´ to help missions collect information from agents, general public and other sources. However, she did not divulge the specific details on the progress made so far toward setting up the fund.
Brigadier General Prakash Singh Bogati, who heads the Nepalese Observation Team in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said such a fund could help the UN Peacekeepers to win the trust and cooperation from the local people. “It is very hard to overcome negative forces unless effective intelligence is managed,” he said.
“Our efforts to build good relations and gain trust of the locals, political parties and other government stakeholders have become successful to some extent. But this is not enough,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ashok Gurung, who is returning home after completion of a six-month assignment as the Nepal Army´s 19th Battalion Commander.
NA officials serving in the mission said not only the general public but also the government authorities expected some financial support and development assistance in return for providing information to peacekeepers. “Intelligence collection and assessment of the negative forces has become very impractical in view of the current situation,” argued a Major General requesting anonymity. “We carry out our operations after analysis of past events and contemporary trends,” he said.
According to Nepalese peacekeepers, security situation has worsened after Colonel Mamadou Ndala, who helped secure the military defeat of the powerful M23 rebel movement in November, was killed in by a rocket attack on his vehicle near the village of Mavivi along with his two bodyguards.
Following two months of relative calm in the area, the situation has worsened after Congolese National Army known as FARDC began operations against the M23 but what is missing again is intelligence, an official at the Nepalese Battalion told Republica.
On the other hand, the Congolese army is considered as disorganized, undisciplined and aggressive so people are not that positive about sharing information with them, according to Major General Nigel Subba, Commander of Butembo, the 6th largest city with no electricity in Congo.
“People are needy and helpless so they want something in return for information,” said Major General Subba, “But because of budget constraints it is not possible to bolster our intelligence.”
Officials at MONUSCO said though ANR (National Intelligence Agency) has agents in every sector and villages of the country, intelligence and information gathering is almost zero. “We are ready to help peacekeeping missions and discourage negative forces. But we need some financial and logistical support for the development of the city,” Nyonyi Bwahakawa, the Mayor of Beni Territory, said.
Different groups of Mai Mai, ADF(Allied Democratic Forces), NALU (National Liberation of Uganda), The FDLR (Democratic Forces for the liberation of Rwanda, are in operation in Beni, Lubero, Eringeti and Kanyabayonga, where NA Peacekeepers have been deployed for the peace, development and stability in the country. Many unsuccessful efforts and initiatives have been carried out for the peace in the country already.
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