DRC/EU

Kouchner says the UN needs soldiers, rules in DRC

Article published on the 2008-11-03 Latest update 2008-11-03 17:10 TU

Kouchner speaks in Marseile after the EU ministers meeting
(Credit: Reuters)

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday that the Democratic Republic of Congo needs different soldiers and different rules in order to combat the unrest in the restive Nord-Kivu area. Kouchner spoke at a news conference in Marseille following talks with his 26 EU counterparts on the current crisis.

"There are entire brigades that are unable to engage in defensive, let alone offensive, action, because their rules of engagement are insufficient or they are very restrictive," said Kouchner, in responding to how Monuc, the 17,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in the country could be reinforced.

Earlier today his British counterpart David Miliband said that the possibility of EU troops would not be taken up until after the United Nations special envoy to the DRCongo briefed the UN Security Council.

Mast week, Kouchner had suggested that up to 1,500 EU troops be mobilized to the area after an upsurge in fighting by rogue General Laurent Nkunda and his National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) troops.

Nkunda declared a cease-fire last Wednesday that still seems to be holding, but  he warned the Congolese government on Monday that he would launch a battle to overthrow the DRCongo government it refused talks on his demands.

Meanwhile, Alain Le Roy, UN peacekeeping chief, visited Goma on Monday and stressed that UN peacekeepers will "do the maximum" to protect civilians.