Congo Military Offensive Against Rebels Falters

(25 Nov 09 - RV) United Nations experts on Wednesday said the massive U.N. peacekeeping effort in eastern Congo has failed to deliver a knockout blow to Rwandan rebels while local insurgents have seized new territory under its nose.

Congo's army, backed by the 25,000-strong U.N. force, launched an offensive against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda earlier this year as part of a deal to improve ties with neighbouring Rwanda.

Fr Sean O’Leary is the Director of the Denis Hurley Peace Institute in South Africa. He says the DRC’s reasons for the offensive are suspicious…