07.31.08 MONUC: Our strategy is conflict resolution in an integrated approach (Eoin Young / MONUC)

Interview

What were the biggest challenges during your mandate?

There
were a large number of challenges, but the biggest challenge was
looking after a vast area with not very substantial resources. I had
14,500 troops but with the vastness of the area, the troop density was
one soldier to 145 square kilometres. This was a big challenge along
with the lack of intelligence to create the optimum military
conditions.

What were your biggest successes as MONUC Eastern Division commander?

In
conflict management of this nature, success is gauged by an integrated
approach, where the mission works along various prongs to ensure
conflict resolution. As the Eastern Division commander, I was able to
create those military conditions that are necessary to further the
political initiatives.

What are the measures being taken to accompany the Nairobi communiqué and the Amani peace programme?

Firstly
as far as the Nairobi communiqué is concerned, we have operations
ongoing against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
(FDLR), and in identified areas we are slowly building up our combat
power, with the intention of forcing the FDLR to enter the Disarmament,
Demobilization, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRRR)
programme.

Information operations are also being undertaken and we’re assisting DDRRR initiatives in this regard.

We
are also undertaking, in concert with the government, the economic
strangulation of the FDLR to deny them access to illegal mining sites
and the siphoning of mineral wealth into neighbouring countries.

With
regard to the Amani programme, we have created military conditions
which have enabled the consolidation of the peace process.

We
have enhanced deployment in areas where the National Congress for the
Defense of the People (CNDP) are located, and in areas between warring
factions to keep them at bay and to ensure the cease fire on the
ground, and this is being monitored very diligently by MONUC’s Eastern
division.

How do you evaluate the Goma peace process
and the Amani programme so far? What kind of reduction have you seen in
militia activity and human rights violations on the ground in the last
six months?

The Goma peace process is moving forward,
though slowly, but it’s moving in a very deliberate fashion. I do feel
that its going to consolidate and intensify and we’re going to have
conflict resolution very soon on the ground. A few months ago there
were 301 ceasefire violations in one month.

But
they have calmed down and since June, there has been a marked
improvement as far as the violence between the armed groups is
concerned. That’s a healthy sign, but there are still reports of a
large number of human rights violations, which is a cause of concern.
It’s being looked into but MONUC military cannot be everywhere.

We
have more police forces coming into eastern DRC, and I think in a more
integrated fashion we’ll be able to deploy in every area of the Eastern
Division, so that we can ensure that human rights are respected.

What are the main military strategies for MONUC in North Kivu, Ituri and other areas? Where are the blue helmets concentrated?

The
strategy is essentially for conflict resolution, in a multi pronged
integrated strategy. In this context we are deployed along the
population centres, and we are deployed in a manner to provide security
to various arteries and roads.

It’s basically to provide
military conditions to ensure the consolidation of the peace
initiatives. The Kivus are the two provinces that encompass the peace
process, and therefore the majority of blue helmets are located in
North Kivu, followed by South Kivu.

How successful are the MONUC/FARDC joint patrols?

These
joint operations are continuing all over the Eastern division, from
Ituri to Kisangani and the Kiuvs, and the performance of the FARDC is
improving by the day, and they have a desire to do their job in the
right perspective. Wherever these patrols are being undertaken they are
able to fulfill their assigned missions.

What are the main challenges for your successor?

I
think the main challenge for my successor will be to ensure the
military conditions to further the political initiatives of the Nairobi
communiqué and the Goma peace process. While the Goma peace process
entails more defensive measures, operations against the FDLR would have
more offensive minded operations as well.

That is going to be a major challenge as far as my successor is concerned.