Democratic Republic of the Congo: A U.N. Intervention in Kivu

A Tanzanian-led U.N. intervention brigade is in the process of entering the eastern Congolese province of North Kivu. The 2,500-strong brigade will include troops from South Africa and Malawi. Meanwhile, the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are preparing to support the peacekeepers while Congolese rebel group M23 is preparing to thwart them. The mandate of the U.N. campaign is to disarm all rebel groups in North Kivu, and the campaign is expected to start within the next two months. Achieving the disarmament will be difficult due to the relatively small size of the intervention force, logistical challenges and resistance from rebel groups like M23. Still, the intervention could prompt external supporters of the rebels, such as Rwanda and Uganda, to end their assistance.