UN 'has failed against rebels'

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Rwandan-Hutu rebels are still recruiting fighters and receiving arms, according to a leaked report.

Jason Stearns, a Democratic Republic of Congo expert, told the BBC the findings of the report were "astounding" and that they indicated "a complete lack of transparency" in the DR Congo mineral trade.

The report which was commissioned by the UN to investigate arms embargo breaches found a continuation in the illegal mineral trade.

Stearns said: "This allows many actors to continue to buy tin and gold from areas controlled by rebel groups, thereby financing these rebel groups.

He said the report had "implicated some of the most important gold dealers in the DR Congo, in Burundi and in Rwanda," saying that "very high level officials" were involved.

There are also reports that the UN-backed military operation has failed to disable the rebel political and military structure, and that rebels still receive support from senior officials in the Congolese military.

It is understood that rebels are recruiting and obtaining arms through networks in Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and other overseas countries and that they are expanding their influence under the command of General Bosco Ntaganda, who is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court.