United Nations, May 29: Under pressure to prevent a possible repeat of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, UN Security Council is expected to approve a French-led peacekeeping force for northeastern part of Congo where spiralling ethnic fighting for control of mineral rich region has already killed more than 400 people. France has proposed the sending of the peacekeepers which the council is expected to approve tomorrow and first units should be in Bunia by early next week.
About 1200 troops from France, Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria and European countries are expected to reinforce 750 peacekeepers from Uruguay already in area to supervise ceasefire.
There are indications that France would provide about half the troops to the force with mandate to protect civilians as also major installations, including the airport in Bunia. Britain and the United States are not expected to provide troops but might give logistic support.
About 1,500 troops from Bangladesh are expected to reach the Bunia region and mineral rich Ituri by September.
Lendu and Hema tribes are fighting for the control of the area and the situation worsened when Uganda withdrew more than 6000 troops Bunia and neighbouring areas on May 7. Even as the council was finalizing the draft resolution, a United Nations humanitarian official said the only way to quell the violence is to send a multinational force to the region to pressure rival factions to reopen peace talks. Bureau Report