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Author : O. Ilyshev
Third Secretary, Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
IN 2015, the world marked the 70th anniversaries
of two key events of the 20th century. One of them
was the end of the Great Patriotic War and World
War II. The other was the establishment of the
United Nations, an organization entrusted with the
mission of consolidating peace that had cost so
much to achieve.
On November 20, 2012, the United Nations' peace-
keeping system suffered what had been one of the
heaviest blows to its reputation in two decades.
The fact that the United Nations' second largest
mission in terms of personnel and annual budgets was unable to carry out its main task of pro-
tecting civilians and left Goma at the mercy of militants caused indignation not only in DR
Congo but also among world powers.
After this physical and reputational defeat, MONUSCO had to prove to the government and
population of DR Congo and to the international community that it was worth its salt.
The UN Force Intervention Brigade is the only blue helmet unit in the world authorized to carry
out "targeted offensive operations."
MONUSCO restored its global reputation and earned praise from the Security Council.
The defeat of M23 and a Congolese government ultimatum for all rebels to lay down their arms
by December 20, 2013 made about 8,000 militants disarm voluntarily.
There are, apparently, three main reasons for the Intervention Brigade's relatively poor record.
First, although the brigade is mandated to carry out independent operations, without joining
forces with the Congolese army, it cannot do so.
Second, the brigade has not been up to the challenge of guerrilla tactics adopted by FDLR, ADF
and other Congolese armed groups, whose members move around regions that are hard to reach
and avoid direct contact with the brigade or Congolese army.
And third, the brigade's extensive mandate has not saved it from the endemic diseases of UN
peacekeeping missions but made the Congolese government build unreasonable hopes on it.
These factors prompt the conclusion that a hypothetical unit similar to the Intervention Brigade
that would be deployed as part of another UN peacekeeping mission would come up against
the same problems, which would minimize its potential.
All this vindicates Russia's position that setting up the Force Intervention Brigade must not
create a precedent in the United Nations' peacekeeping practice as some countries wanted.
http://interaffairs.ru
The UN Force Intervention Brigade in DR Congo: "Offensive"
Peacekeeping