The EU to the Rescue?

The European Union is still debating the details of sending troops to the Congo at the request of the United Nations. The request dates back to January and is expected to be decided upon by the end of this month, though doubt exists as to whether the EU would be able to do so seeing as many countries are reluctant to offer their own soldiers. According to Retuers:

Envoys from the bloc’s 25 countries held talks in Brussels on Tuesday, but officials played down prospects of progress. Britain has said it will not contribute forces because it is over-stretched with commitments in Iraq and elsewhere, while envoys said France was unwilling to lead the EU mission because it is already engaged in peacekeeping in Ivory Coast.

Paris has also pointed out that it coordinated an earlier EU security mission in the Ituri region of Congo in 2003.Germany is the only other EU nation with sufficient planning capacity to lead such an operation, but has also shown unwilling to be put in the lead role.The United Nations would prefer an EU force on the ground in Congo but would accept other choices. An EU fact-finding mission to Kinshasa earlier this year concluded that a standby force on reserve outside the country might cover most needs.

So most of Europe is now pointing fingers trying to come up with a reason why it shouldn’t be the one to lead or send troops. On top of that, the fact-finding mission, diplomatic code for doing nothing, recommended stationing troops in neighboring countries. Perhaps they could also help stabilize Afghanistan or Iraq from there too. The German news, however, has more details. First of all, it notes that Germany is calling to head up the mission and that numerous other countries have signalled their willingness to participate, namely Spain, Portugal, Scweden, France, Austria, Poland and Belgium.

Jung zeigte sich zuversichtlich, dass Solana seine Mission erfolgreich absolvieren werde. “Wir brauchen eine belastbare Zahl der Streitkräfte”, sagte der Bundesverteidigungsminister. Die Bundesregierung stellt vier Bedingungen für eine Teilnahme. Kongo müsse eine klare Anforderung an die EU richten. Die Vereinten Nationen müssten der Truppe ein Mandat geben. Zudem will Berlin, dass der Einsatz auf die Hauptstadt Kinshasa begrenzt bleibt und höchstens vier Monate dauert.

[Chirol’s translation]:
Jung was confident that Solana would successfully organize the mission. “We need a number of troops who are able to work under pressure” the German Defense Minister said. The German government gave four conditions for its participation. The Congo must send the EU a clear request. The UN must give their troops a mandate and additionally that the mission is confined to the capital Kinshasa and that it lasts four months at most.

Both Germany and France have said they could contribute approximately 400 soldiers each with the UN request calling for between 1,000 and 1,500. Yet, with 16,000 peacekeepers already there, how much good would 100 EU troops in the capital and over a thousand in bordering countries do? However, on top of that, how much good will sending troops to the Congo do in general? Though some may argue Belgium itself has some colonial responsibility, the general utility of trying to solve the conflict in the Congo is quite questionable. Despite the tremendous loss of life throughout the many wars there, the likelihood that the Congo has any future at all is very slim. Additionally, a thousand soldiers, most outside, won’t have a big effect on upcoming elections nor is it likely the elections themself will make any difference.

While I’m quite happy to see the EU openly debating missions around the world, I do think this is a time to think carefully about the mission and whether it will ultimately have any benefit without long term enforcement, tens of thousands of more troops and massive aid and development. With no future for much of sub-saharan Africa in sight, Europe needs to start elsewhere, going where the opportunity exists to do some real (i.e. effective) good. Nevertheless there will be great temptation to send a token force, after the miles of paperwork are done to chalk up another mission on the EU blackboard. If Europe merely wants to get their troops on the ground abroad, rack up some experience and move on, then this blogger fully supports them. But, if they expect to make a difference, its better to sit this one out rather than play a losing hand.