A contingent of Tanzanian soldiers arrived in
the eastern city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
today as part of the intervention brigade authorized by the United
Nations to help neutralize armed groups in this volatile part of the
country.
In March the Security Council authorized the deployment of an
intervention brigade within the existing UN peacekeeping operation in
the country (MONUSCO) to carry out targeted offensive operations, with
or without the Congolese national army, against armed groups that
threaten peace in eastern DRC.
The brigade - which will be based in North Kivu province and total
3,069 peacekeepers - is tasked with neutralizing armed groups, reducing
the threat posed to State authority and civilian security and make space
for stabilization activities.
Madnodje Mounoubai, spokesperson for MONUSCO, said in an interview
with UN-backed Radio Okapi that the soldiers that arrived today bring to
100 the number of Tanzanian troops that are now on the ground as part
of the brigade.
"Today, a number of Tanzanian soldiers arrived with equipment. From
the evidence we have, about a hundred elements are already in place.
These are officers, members of staff, so those responsible for planning
that have arrived," he said.
He added that the Commander of the brigade, General James Mwakibolwa, is already in place with certain members of his staff.
The brigade is designed to further support the political objectives
of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the
region - a peace deal signed in February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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