FIB Tanzanian special forces, part of MONUSCO, in Sake, North Kivu (July 2013). Photo: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti
New U.N. Brigade’s Aggressive Stance in Africa Brings Success, and Risks -- New York Times
KIWANJA, Democratic Republic of Congo — When Martin Kobler, the newly appointed United Nations representative, arrived this summer for his first visit to this small but strategic town, armed members of the M23 rebel group lined the airstrip, silently watching him land and disembark. Their presence sent an unmistakable message: the rebels, not Congolese officials, controlled Kiwanja.
But when he landed at the end of October, he was greeted instead by crowds of cheering civilians. The armed fighters who had terrorized them were nowhere in sight. Congolese forces, supported by United Nations peacekeepers, had routed the rebels and restored control of the town to the central government.
“Our task is to dissolve political blockage, to end occupation by armed forces, to restore state authority, to bring back hope to the people,” said Mr. Kobler, a German career diplomat and special representative of the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. “You have to find new instruments to restore the peace.”
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My Comment: Their defeat of the M23 rebel movement is a success story .... the key now is to win the peace .... a completely different challenge.