India Warns its Peacekeeping Troops in DRC of M23 Retaliatory Strikes

{{Indian authorities have asked its peacekeeping troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be extra vigilant for retaliatory attacks by the deadly Congolese rebel group, M23, in the coming days. }}

A new UN practice of mixing fighting troops along with peacekeepers may be placing Indian soldiers in Congo in danger.

In the past few days, M23 has come under fire from combined operations by the Congolese army and UN-sponsored intervention brigade.

The brigade has orders to target and “neutralize” these armed groups, as opposed to peacekeeping troops who don’t use force.

The trouble, so far as India is concerned, is the intervention brigade is part of the peacekeeping unit and even wears the same uniform.

But it means, during combat, or peace-enforcing operations in UN jargon, peacekeepers who are not in a combat role become vulnerable to retaliatory strikes, abductions etc.

{Times of India}