On 28 March, 2013, the United Nations Security Council approved Resolution 2098, which authorized the creation of an 'offensive intervention brigade' for the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The DRC is currently home to MONUSCO, the world's largest and most expensive peacekeeping operation. MONUSCO has faced its fair share of criticisms, namely failing to protect civilians, suffering language barriers with the local population, and the lack of a mandate that allowed for engaging with the various rebel movements that plague the area. However, the new brigade is authorized to seek out, engage, and destroy the many non-state actors that bring chaos to the region. Some of the groups, such as the notorious FDLR, the same rebels that perpetrated the Rwandan genocide, have been terrorizing the Kivus for almost 20 years. Others, such as the M23, are revamps of older movements, but still apt to cause massive violence and displacement seemingly whenever they so chose.
The rebel movements, ranging from non-Congolese actors such as the FDLR, various Mai-Mai organizations, the Raia Mutomboki , and the former CNDP now M23, have operated in the eastern region with impunity for far too long. Scholars, such as Laura Seay, have pointed out that this brigade is well needed, if about a decade too late in coming together. The UN, the Congolese government, and the international community have offered carrot after carrot to bring the rebels to negotiations. The instances of negotiations very rarely proved successful, with some parties refusing to participate at all. Several peaceful strategies have been offered and failed. The people of the east deserve peace, and the government in Kinshasa, as well as the national army (FARDC) have proved that they are unable and lack the legitimacy to provide security. For the UN to decide to send in an offensive force to effectively drive the hostile parties out of the forests is an excellent move. Many have questioned the legitimacy of sending 'peacekeepers' to wage 'acts of war'. In the instance of the DRC, no other option has worked, and this is the best chance to bring much needed stability to the region.
The first contingent of troops arrived in Goma on May 10. The Tanzanians, under the command of General James Mwakibolwa, are the first steps to bringing a security presence to the region. The rebel groups in the area are already worried, judging by the Twitter account of M23. While the first troops of the brigade are just arriving, many are looking forward to the future and the potential success of the operation. If it works, it will allow a region that has been the site of almost non-stop violence for 20 years to finally have peace, and all of the opportunities that come along with it.
