How Lt Gen Rawat changed the face of UN peacekeeping in conflict-hit Congo | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

How Lt Gen Rawat changed the face of UN peacekeeping in conflict-hit Congo

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | By
Dec 19, 2016 01:43 AM IST

When Bipin Rawat took charge of the United Nations’ North Kivu Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo eight years ago, things weren’t going too well for the world’s costliest peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym MONUC. He hit the ground running and quickly grasped the reason the peacekeepers were struggling to contain the crisis in the Congo, formerly known as Zaire.

When Bipin Rawat took charge of the United Nations’ North Kivu Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo eight years ago, things weren’t going too well for the world’s costliest peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym MONUC.

Indian peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008. In the crisis-ridden country, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat adopted an effective iron fist strategy and scripted a remarkable turnaround for the mission.(Rahul Singh/HT File Photo)
Indian peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008. In the crisis-ridden country, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat adopted an effective iron fist strategy and scripted a remarkable turnaround for the mission.(Rahul Singh/HT File Photo)

The locals were contemptuous of UN peacekeepers, questioning what difference they had made in their lives and accusing the mission of doing little to protect them. Angry crowds would often hurl stones at UN vehicles on the streets of Goma, the capital of North Kivu and where the Indian brigade is based.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Lieutenant General Rawat, who will take over as army chief on December 31, was a brigadier when he was sent to the Congo in August 2008 to command the Indian Army’s, then as now, largest deployment on foreign soil. He hit the ground running and quickly grasped the reason the peacekeepers were struggling to contain the crisis in the Congo, formerly known as Zaire.

“We were not fighting with our equipment, despite Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the use of force in some scenarios. We have decided to fight with our equipment,” Rawat told this correspondent who was then covering the conflict in eastern Congo.

“They knew we were willing to go the extra mile to protect them.”

Rawat reworked the velvet-glove strategy to an iron fist within a month of his arrival, frequently authorising the use of attack helicopters to strafe positions held by rebel groups responsible for civilian deaths, recruiting child soldiers and displacing millions of people.

As the Congo’s internal conflict raged, he ordered the deployment of infantry combat vehicles rigged with machine guns and cannons to crush rebels and enforce peace in flashpoints such as Tonga, Kanyabayonga, Rutshuru and Bunagana.

Lt Gen Rawat was a brigadier when he was sent to the Congo in August 2008 to command the Indian Army’s, then as now, largest deployment on foreign soil. (Rahul Singh/HT File Photo)
Lt Gen Rawat was a brigadier when he was sent to the Congo in August 2008 to command the Indian Army’s, then as now, largest deployment on foreign soil. (Rahul Singh/HT File Photo)

Read: Eight things you need to know about new army chief Bipin Rawat

In a remarkable turnaround, peacekeepers facing public anger soon became a symbol of hope for the local communities.

The change in attitude was clearly visible when thousands of locals, caught in the crossfire between the Congolese forces and rebel fighters, took refuge in an army base at Masisi located 80km from Goma.

The crowd clapped and cheered for the peacekeepers as Indian helicopter gunships swooped down and sprayed rockets on rebel positions, allowing the Congolese army to push them back.

“They knew we were willing to go the extra mile to protect them,” Rawat then told this correspondent.

Interestingly, Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was heading the Bukavu-based South Kivu brigade in 2007. The two Kivu brigades were under the Eastern Divison then commanded by former army chief General Bikram Singh.

Read: Govt final authority, don’t politicise Rawat appointment: Ex-army chief to parties

Read: Cong, Left question Rawat’s appointment as army chief over 2 senior candidates

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On