The situation in Beni, which lies in the North Kivu province of Congo, has been aggravated after a negative armed group attacked the national military (FARDC) camp some 12 km East of Beni, in a place called Nyaleke on April 24/25 night during which four people, including a child, were killed. Around 50 houses were burnt down.[break]
“Although the situation here is said to be relatively calm than a few years earlier during the height of the then civil war, it is highly unpredictable,” Let Col. Bhagwan Khatri, the commander of the 12th Nepal Battalion in Beni told Republica. “Even Beni is now targeted by the rebel groups,” he added.
Although the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has requested for a draw down plan for MONUC from the UN with a view to withdraw the troops by June 2011, the DRC is said to be now rethinking its own proposal after the incident.
“The Congo government had asked for a plan to withdraw 1,900 troops from MONUC, but after the incident of April it has told those troops earmarked to leave to hold,” Helder De Barros, the chief of MONUC in Beni shared with Republica.
The peacekeepers are also facing additional problems from another rebel group called the Mayi Mayi. Initially formed to protect the local communities, the Mayi Mayi split into tiny rebel groups over the years after 2003 and started terrorizing people in remote corners of the country. The groups include Kasindien Mayi Mayi, Kifuafua Mayi Mayi, Mongol Mayi Mayi, Ujps Mayi Mayi, Rwenzori Mayi Mayi, among others.
“There are a number of splinter armed groups of Mayi Mayi that operate from remote corners of the country and stay around places which are rich in minerals like gold,” Major Bijit Raj Regmi, the operation chief of the 12th Battalion said, adding, “Beni and its surrounding areas are under threat from these smaller groups.”
Higher up from Beni in Butembo and further 100 Km to Lubero as well the peacekeepers face unpredictable attacks from these groups.
“There are a lot of cases of lootings and attacks on the local population by the negative armed groups,” Major Ram Chandra Thapa, the commanding officer at Lubero, where NA has a Company Operation Base (COB), said.
There are about 17,000 peacekeepers in Congo from contribution of 50 countries, including 850 NA soldiers.
Under the mandate of MONUC, the NA battalion carry out patrolling in its area of responsibility (AoR is 190 km north-south, east-west of Beni), give escorts to VIPs and protection to NGOs/INGOs working in the area. It is also involved in humanitarian assistance and relief work.
“The most difficult challenge in this region is the topography. Because of the difficult terrain we are yet to reach the inner part of our AoR which is extensive,” Lt Col Khatri said.
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