UN Extends Congo Peacekeeping Mission, Urges Rwanda's Withdrawal
UN extends Congo mission, demands Rwanda's exit amid escalating conflict in eastern region.
Photo by Sushanta Rokka
मुख्य तथ्य
UN Security Council urged Rwanda to withdraw forces from eastern Congo
UN peacekeeping mission in Congo extended for a year
Approximately 11,500 military personnel maintained in Congo
Decision made amidst escalating fighting despite peace deals
UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
UN Peacekeeping Missions: Mandate, principles, challenges, reforms.
International Relations: Regional conflicts, role of international organizations, sovereignty vs. humanitarian intervention, proxy wars.
Geography: Great Lakes Region, mineral resources and conflict.
History: Post-colonial conflicts in Africa, Rwandan genocide and its regional impact.
Indian Foreign Policy: India's contribution to UN peacekeeping.
दृश्य सामग्री
UN Peacekeeping in Eastern Congo: Conflict Zones & Regional Actors (Dec 2025)
This map illustrates the key conflict areas in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) is active, and highlights the proximity and role of Rwanda, which is urged to withdraw its forces. It contextualizes the ongoing security challenges and regional dynamics.
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और जानकारी
पृष्ठभूमि
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by conflict for decades, particularly in its eastern regions. This instability is rooted in a complex interplay of ethnic tensions, competition over vast mineral resources (like cobalt, coltan, gold, diamonds), weak governance, and the spillover effects of regional conflicts, notably the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Various armed groups, both domestic and foreign, operate in the region, often with alleged support from neighboring states. The UN has maintained a peacekeeping presence in the DRC since 1999, with the current mission being MONUSCO (UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo), which evolved from MONUC.
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
The UN Security Council has extended MONUSCO's mandate for another year, maintaining a significant military presence. This decision comes amidst renewed and escalating fighting in eastern Congo, particularly involving the M23 rebel group, which the UN and DRC government accuse Rwanda of supporting.
Despite existing regional peace initiatives (such as the Luanda Agreement and Nairobi Process), the violence persists. The UN's call for Rwanda to withdraw its forces underscores the persistent challenge of regional interference and the difficulty in achieving lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO): 1. It is one of the longest-running and largest UN peacekeeping operations. 2. Its mandate includes protecting civilians, supporting government stabilization efforts, and assisting in electoral processes. 3. India is one of the largest troop-contributing countries to MONUSCO. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement 1: MONUSCO (and its predecessor MONUC) has indeed been one of the UN's longest and largest peacekeeping missions, operating since 1999. Statement 2: MONUSCO's mandate is comprehensive, covering civilian protection, support for state authority, security sector reform, and electoral assistance. Statement 3: India has historically been, and continues to be, one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions globally, including MONUSCO. Therefore, all statements are correct.
2. In the context of the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which of the following statements is NOT correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement A is correct. The M23 rebel group is a key actor in the eastern DRC conflict, and accusations of Rwandan support are widespread. Statement B is correct. The Great Lakes Region, particularly eastern DRC, is rich in minerals like coltan, cobalt, gold, and diamonds, often termed 'conflict minerals' due to their role in funding armed groups. Statement C is correct. The East African Community (EAC) has indeed deployed a regional force (EACRF) to eastern DRC as part of efforts to address the conflict. Statement D is NOT correct. The Democratic Republic of Congo is NOT a landlocked country; it has a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, near the mouth of the Congo River. It shares borders with nine countries, but it is not landlocked.
3. Match List-I (Regional Organization) with List-II (Associated Region/Country) and select the correct answer using the code given below: List-I (Regional Organization) I. East African Community (EAC) II. Southern African Development Community (SADC) III. Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) List-II (Associated Region/Country) 1. Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo 2. Angola 3. Central African Republic Code: A) I-1, II-2, III-3 B) I-2, II-1, III-3 C) I-1, II-3, III-2 D) I-3, II-2, III-1
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
I. East African Community (EAC): The DRC became a member of the EAC in 2022, and the EAC has deployed a regional force to eastern DRC, making I-1 a correct match. II. Southern African Development Community (SADC): Angola is a founding member of SADC. SADC also has a mission in DRC (SAMIDRC) but Angola is a core SADC member, making II-2 a correct match. III. Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS): The Central African Republic is a member of ECCAS, making III-3 a correct match. The DRC is also a member of ECCAS, but the question asks for 'associated region/country' and CAR is a clear fit for ECCAS.
4. Which of the following factors have historically contributed to the persistent instability and conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? 1. Abundance of valuable mineral resources like coltan and cobalt. 2. Spillover effects from the 1994 Rwandan genocide. 3. Weak central governance and presence of numerous armed non-state actors. 4. Climate change-induced resource scarcity leading to inter-communal violence. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
1. Abundance of valuable mineral resources: Eastern DRC is rich in 'conflict minerals' which have fueled various armed groups and prolonged the conflict. This is a primary factor. 2. Spillover effects from the 1994 Rwandan genocide: The influx of Hutu génocidaires (FDLR) into eastern DRC after the Rwandan genocide has been a significant destabilizing factor, leading to proxy wars and ethnic tensions. 3. Weak central governance and presence of numerous armed non-state actors: The DRC government has historically struggled to assert control over its vast eastern territories, allowing various armed groups (both local and foreign) to operate with impunity. 4. Climate change-induced resource scarcity: While climate change can exacerbate conflicts globally, it is not considered a primary or historically dominant factor in the *persistent* instability of eastern DRC compared to the other three factors. The conflict is more directly linked to mineral wealth, ethnic tensions, and regional interference. Therefore, statement 4 is less accurate as a primary historical contributor in this specific context.