BY WARYOBA YANKAMI
16th May 2013
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The Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) has already deployed 100 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the United Nations peacekeeping mission, a spokesman said in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
Lt Col Kapambala Mgawe said the arrival of Tanzanian soldiers has rekindled peace prospects in the vast central African country between the warring factions in the eastern part and the government.
“Everything, I can say looks fine,” he assured Tanzanians.
He said the exercise of deploying soldiers is a continuous one for other troops expected in the civil war-torn mineral rich central African country.
Tanzanian troops constitute the first batch of soldiers to be deployed there awaiting other troops, he said.
“They will prepare areas where other troops would settle since this is a rainy season in DR Congo,” he explained.
“We’re the first batch of soldiers because we had completed all necessary preparations in time, which were also approved by the UN,” he clarified.
“Peacekeeping will begin immediately after the deployment of all troops from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania.”
On why Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi were picked for the DRC peacekeeping mission among other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries, Lt Col Mgawe said: “SADC member countries are many, but their chance of being affected by the Congo conflict is remote. Tanzania is the most affected because of the refugee crisis.”
He said Tanzania’s obtaining peace and tranquility has for years attracted thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries who sought political asylum.
On why Congo’s M23 rebels are condemning Tanzania for deploying its troops in the vast central African country, Lt Col Mgawe said: “They are worried because of our military might and the experience we have gained in other peacekeeping missions.”Lt Col Kapambala Mgawe said the arrival of Tanzanian soldiers has rekindled peace prospects in the vast central African country between the warring factions in the eastern part and the government.
“Everything, I can say looks fine,” he assured Tanzanians.
He said the exercise of deploying soldiers is a continuous one for other troops expected in the civil war-torn mineral rich central African country.
Tanzanian troops constitute the first batch of soldiers to be deployed there awaiting other troops, he said.
“They will prepare areas where other troops would settle since this is a rainy season in DR Congo,” he explained.
“We’re the first batch of soldiers because we had completed all necessary preparations in time, which were also approved by the UN,” he clarified.
“Peacekeeping will begin immediately after the deployment of all troops from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania.”
On why Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi were picked for the DRC peacekeeping mission among other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries, Lt Col Mgawe said: “SADC member countries are many, but their chance of being affected by the Congo conflict is remote. Tanzania is the most affected because of the refugee crisis.”
He said Tanzania’s obtaining peace and tranquility has for years attracted thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries who sought political asylum.
DR Congo UN peacekeeping mission spokesman Lt Col Felix Basse reported last week that the Tanzanian troops, which entered eastern DR Congo, form the advancing party of the new 3,000-strong UN intervention force to be deployed in the country.
On March 28, the UN Security Council passed a resolution, which not only renewed the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo for one year, but also created a special UN brigade that will fight armed groups, rather than merely defend civilians.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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