{After more attacks in Beni in Eastern Congo, UN envoy Martin Kobler has today called for joint UN and Congolese Army actions against the perpetrators. }
Not addressed are allegations that the Congolese Army FARDC has colluded with these and some other rebels, including the FDLR.
Questions have only grown as to why the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade was deployed only against the M23, and not the ADF or FDLR.
Put atop UN Peacekeeping is Herve Ladsous, who argued for the escape of FDLR genocidaires into East Congo as France’s Deputy Permanent Representative in 1994. Ladsous has refused to answer Press questions about this and now about covering up rapes in Darfur.
Earlier in the week amid continued slaughter in Eastern Congo, with the government having thrown UN rights expert Scott Campbell out of the country, on December 2 there was an “urgent” press release by the Team of Special Envoys.
The Envoys on December 2 called for action to be taken against the ADF and, once again, the FDLR.
Now on December 7, Kobler’s call, Google translated: Kinshasa, December 7, 2014 – “I am deeply shocked by the brutal massacres last night in the localities of Ahili and Manzanzanba. I condemn in the strongest terms these despicable acts that aim to maintain a climate of terror in the region, “railed the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC.
“The proliferation of joint actions MONUSCO-FARDC is vital urgency and I call on all partners to strengthen cooperation to enable more immediate interventions and increase preventive patrols,” insisted Martin Kobler.
Note to editors:
1. A team of MONUSCO and the FARDC and PNC are on hand to check the facts and secure the area.
2. The killings took place in the two localities Ahili and Manzanzanba west of Maimoya in the great north of the North Kivu province.
3. On December 3, the Head of MONUSCO, the Ambassador of Great Britain in DRC, Tim Morris, and representatives of the US embassies and France had visited Blessed to express the same voices concern after the terrorist attacks in recent weeks in the territory of Beni.
4. On 5 December, Mr. Kobler had returned to Erengeti call for stronger joint action MONUSCO-FARDC. He also asked the people to maintain direct contact with the forces of MONUSCO to facilitate immediate interventions.
As to the Congolese Army FARDC, it’s worth noting that US Ambassador Samantha Power tweeted last week, “Nov 20 ADF massacre of 80+ in DRC just latest appalling atrocity. If true, reported FARDC collusion deplorable. Need investigation & justice.”
The Envoys’ statement make no mention of this possible FARDC collusion.
The Special Envoy’s making today’s call are UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit, the US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Russ Feingold, the African Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes region Boubacar Diarra, the European Union Senior Coordinator for the Great Lakes region Koen Vervaeke, the Belgium Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Franck de Coninck and UN SRSG Martin Kobler.
Back on October 27 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo the topic in the UN Security Council, Inner City Press put questions to UN envoy Martin Kobler and Great Lakes envoy Said Djinnit after the meeting.
On the FDLR, Inner City Press asked Kobler of Rwandan Ambassador Gasana’s statement that Rwanda told the UN of locations where the FDLR was not mixed in with civilians, but not action was taken.
Kobler said that the region had put the deadline for disarmament at January 2 — two days after Rwanda’s two year Security Council membership ends — and Djinnit added that “pressure should start” on January 2. Start?
Inner City Press
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