Congo says no to ‘abusive’ Indian peacekeepers

The Congolese government has written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asking him not to send any more Indian troops.

The Congolese government has written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asking him not to send any more Indian troops to reinforce its peacekeeping mission, according to a letter.

India is not mentioned by name, but diplomatic sources told AFP that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is without doubt referring to the Indian contingent of MONUC, the UN peacekeeping mission.

“In view of the numerous abuses of power carried out by certain troops within MONUC, the (Congolese) people would not understand if soldiers from the same country would be used to boost numbers within MONUC,” says the letter, which was read to AFP by diplomatic sources.

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Indian peacekeepers have been accused of sexual abuse and MONUC admitted in August that some Indian troops could have been involved.

The letter could prove a major diplomatic embarrassment to the UN. Some 90 per cent of the peacekeepers patrolling the troubled Nord-Kivu region are from India and New Delhi is also providing assault helicopters for the mission.

The UN Security Council voted last Thursday to send 3,000 reinforcements to the country, which countries will supply the extra troops and when is still to be undecided.

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