MONUC Mayhem

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has had some troubles over the past few weeks. On the 25th of February, a Bangladeshi military unit was intercepted by militia and 9 Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed 5 kilometers west of Kafe, in the district of Ituri.


Red area indicates general location of incidents.

Now, UN peacekeepers have somehow killed 60 militia in an action utilising attack aircraft and armoured vehicles. This report from the Australian ABC gives little other detail.

"More than 50 militia members have been killed during a large United Nations operation in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN mission says. "At least 50 militia members were killed during this operation which involved the use of armoured vehicles and an attack helicopter," UN military spokesman Lieutenant-colonel Dominique Demange said. Two UN soldiers have been wounded during the operation. The clash happened 30 kilometres outside the town of Bunia, the main town in the troubled Ituri region."

I say little detail, because in this age of instant media access, the killing of 60 nominally armed militia members by what amounts to an armoured and aerial ambush, doesn't appear to rate that highly. What troops were involved? How many? Was this a deliberate attack? If so, what was the planned outcome?
If I had to guess, I'd say that the Bangladeshi armoured infantry located in the region (see map with troop locations and numbers) had a bit of payback heading the native's way, and they appear to have gotten away with it.

It's a quagmire in the Congo. I hope the UN are sending in Vietnamese translators.

PS: Anyone seen an exit strategy lying around here?

Cross-posted at Bastards Inc.

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