France to head force to quell Congo violence

UNITED NATIONS — France said Wednesday it would begin deploying a French-led multinational force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo next week to halt a surge in ethnic violence that's left at least hundreds dead and driven tens of thousands from their homes.

The French commitment to lead a force of more than 1,000 international troops came weeks after U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed to French President Jacques Chirac to intervene in the Ituri province of Congo to stop a bloody power struggle between the ethnic Hemma and Lendu militia. It coincided with a report by a senior U.N. humanitarian official who described scenes of atrocities and mounting chaos during a recent visit to Bunia, the capital of Ituri.

"The situation in Ituri is critical," France's U.N. ambassador, Jean Marc de La Sabliere, told reporters after briefing the 15-nation Security Council on his government's plans. "We have been asked to lead a multinational force in Ituri and France has accepted to lead such a force."

The French envoy said he expected the council to adopt as early as Friday a resolution authorizing France to "take all necessary means" — including use of force — to restore stability in Bunia, ensure the protection of the town's main airport and refugee camps and, if necessary, defend the city's population. South Africa, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain have said they may be prepared to provide troops or support for the operation, according to senior U.S. and French officials.

The deployment of French troops in Congo would mark the second time in the past year that France has sent troops to Africa to quell conflict. France already has 4,000 troops in Ivory Coast.

"What are the French going to do, hand out free cheese!"

No, they'll have their arses handed to 'em on a machete. I believe they will lose as many casualties as America did in both Mideast wars. I feel sorry for the French, it must be tough to be a Colonial Power, hamstrug with all the baggage from their previous Imperialist and Jigoistic Invasions of the Lands of the Oppressed Minority Groups.

But seriously, I hope it does SOME good for the Congo.

Displaced refugees at the UN Compound in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo (news - web sites), Thursday, May 15, 2003. Fighting raged Wednesday outside the U.N. compound sheltering 10,000-plus terrorised civilians against ethnic fighting in the eastern congo city. U.N. officials and others have warned of possible genocide in Bunia and elsewhere in the Ituri province, where the rival Hema and Lendu tribes have fought since Uganda pulled out the last of its 6,000 troops on May 7. (AP Photo/Oxfam)

Displaced refugees at the UN Compound in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, May 15, 2003. Fighting raged Wednesday outside the U.N. compound sheltering 10,000-plus terrorized civilians against ethnic fighting in the eastern Congo city. U.N. officials and others have warned of a possible genocide in Bunia and elsewhere in the Ituri province, where the rival Hema and Lendu tribes have fought since Uganda pulled out 6,000 troops on May 7. (AP Photo/Oxfam)

United Nations (news - web sites) peacekeepers from Uruguay put up razor wire outside the U.N. compound in Bunia, Saturday May 17, 2003 in the Congo. Fighting in and around Bunia between armed militias linked to rival Hema and Lendu tribes was estimated by the United Nations to have killed hundreds of people in the past week. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

A Congolese man attempts to move his wounded son into a more comfortable position at a makeshift hospital outside the U.N. compound in Bunia, Saturday May 17, 2003 in the Congo. Fighting in and around Bunia between armed militias linked to rival Hema and Lendu tribes was estimated by the United Nations (news - web sites) to have killed hundreds of people in the past week. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

An Uruguayan MONUC soldier patrols the main access gate to Bunia airport. Additional UN peacekeepers will be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo (news - web sites) starting next week, the French UN ambassador announced.(AFP/File/Marco Longari)

A wounded man shivers from cold at Bunia hospital due to shots he received from unidentified militiamen on his way home in eastern Bunia. The northeast town of Bunia has been the scene of violent clashes between the Hema and Lendu militas and the MONUC (UN Mission to Congo) compound has since been the main assembling point for the many displaced of the region.(AFP/File/Marco Longari)

Actually, I figure the'll deploy the Legion, and the Legion will sort things out pretty quick. Then the Legion will leave (costs a lot to maintain a force like that out in the bundu) and the tribal factions will comence to hacking on each other again.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
The UN and the French both doom themselves on a regular basis.
The best hope the Congolese have is that the Legion will kill enough of the real hard core boneheads and leave the moderate/level headed types in charge. This might give the region time to recover.

Where is the U.N. resolution backing this adventure?

France will screw this up and they will call on more U.N blue hats to come witness the masacre of tens of thousands of the people they were supposed to protect as they are waiting for approval from a bunch of diplomats at the U.N. who are more interested in un-ending political posturing than they are in saving innocent lives. The French are incapable of herding a flock of sheep who never left the barn. not to mention a war torn nation suffering from internal strife.

They will end up bailing as they usually do and a nation who understands the meaning of freedom will come to their defense. Probably one of the eastern block nations who appreciate the freedoms we hold dear.

Exactly. The picture show the terrible situation that exists in Congo. Kofi, hellooo, Kofi, have you seen these?

This has been going on for over FOUR years now, while the UN holds meeting and watches it happen.

Even now, I am not holding out much hope that they will do anything, other than show up and watch the Congoleses kill each other from behind barbed wire fences. That's what the UN forces have been doing so far.

The sooner we get the UN dismantled that better and replace it with an effective international organization.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.