SF to train Congolese for AFRICOM

Marina · 02-23-2010, 07:14

Back to the heart of Africa . . . on the civilian agency side, we must vet participants and units for human rights abuses prior to training. I don't know if that requirement is the same across the whole of government.

U.S. special forces start training Congo troops
Source: Reuters

* U.S. to train 1,000-strong Congolese battalion

* Says process delayed for two years due to its own wars

The U.S. military command for Africa (Africom) has started training 1,000 Congolese troops in the north of conflict-riven Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. ambassador to the central African country said on Monday.

The troops undergoing training in the eastern town of Kisangani by U.S. special forces among others, will learn tactics, maintenance and medical care, William Garvelink told reporters.

"We are working together to build a professional military that protects Congolese citizens and their human rights and protects the territorial integrity of the Congo," he said.

Last year, a Congolese army operation backed by U.N. troops drew criticism for wide-ranging human rights abuses and both sides say they want to improve army discipline.

U.S. military officials said obeying the chain of command would be at the forefront of their efforts in the $30-40 million, eight month training programme.

Garvelink said training had been delayed by two years due to American special forces' commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Human rights observers have questioned whether training an army containing so many former insurgents would only make them more professional rebels.

"Are we going to make them better at killing or are we going to give them disciplined skills to obey the officers...so that they demonstrate restraint?" asked Col. Thomas Crowder, Africom-commissioned director for the office of security cooperation at the U.S embassy in Kinshasa.

"That's what we're striving to achieve," he said.

Richard · 02-24-2010, 06:34

I knew some of the guys who were there in the 60s - I hope these new MTTs enjoy more success than those earlier ones.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

**The Reaper** · 02-24-2010, 19:02

Had a buddy with a team there in the 90s.

Same, same.

TR

**Peregrino** · 02-24-2010, 19:45

Nothing good will come from this. Just wait until the liberal media starts playing "School of the Americas" games.

KLB · 02-24-2010, 21:53

Train and equip... we've been down this road before. Let's hope the initials JCK don't become synonymous with bad things in years to come. And doesn't this mean that certain radical groups accused of atrocities, which have already merged with the DRC Army, e.g. Laurent Nkuda's militia group, are now essentially being trained and equipped by US Marines? How can organizations such as UHRC not construe this as U.S. support, or in the very least, a pass for men such as Bosco Ntaganda? Is this good policy?

Marina · 03-12-2010, 12:35

It looks like the good guys have their work cut out for them.

Source

NAIROBI, 12 March 2010 - Government troops - the FARDC - in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are to blame for much of the epidemic of sexual violence in the east of the country, according to US and UN reports detailing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity by various groups there.

FARDC is trying to rout the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) from the Kivu region and Oriental province in eastern Congo, but operations have been criticized for their impact on civilians.

“Armed groups such as the LRA and FDLR commit atrocities that amount to grave breaches of international humanitarian law and, in some instances, may also constitute crimes against humanity,” according to the UN experts.

“In North Kivu, an assistance provider for victims of sexual violence recorded 3,106 cases between January and July 2009; half of these cases were perpetrated by FARDC members,” a group of seven UN experts said in their second report on the situation in DRC, submitted to the Security Council on 8 March.

Many of the FARDC troops used to be members of rebel groups who joined the army as part of peace initiatives.

In 2009, groups still under arms “continued to commit numerous, serious abuses - some of which may have constituted war crimes - including unlawful killings, disappearances, and torture”, according to the US government’s annual global human rights report, released on 11 March.

The UN experts added arbitrary arrest, forced labour and extortion to this litany of abuses.

In Dungu territory of Oriental Province, according to the US-based Enough Project, soldiers committed 116 rapes in a single neighbourhood last October.

Stras · 03-12-2010, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marina

Back to the heart of Africa . . . on the civilian agency side, we must vet participants and units for human rights abuses prior to training. I don't know if that requirement is the same across the whole of government.

U.S. special forces start training Congo troops
Source: Reuters

* U.S. to train 1,000-strong Congolese battalion

* Says process delayed for two years due to its own wars

The U.S. military command for Africa (Africom) has started training 1,000 Congolese troops in the north of conflict-riven Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. ambassador to the central African country said on Monday.

The troops undergoing training in the eastern town of Kisangani by U.S. special forces among others, will learn tactics, maintenance and medical care, William Garvelink told reporters.

"We are working together to build a professional military that protects Congolese citizens and their human rights and protects the territorial integrity of the Congo," he said.

Last year, a Congolese army operation backed by U.N. troops drew criticism for wide-ranging human rights abuses and both sides say they want to improve army discipline.

U.S. military officials said obeying the chain of command would be at the forefront of their efforts in the $30-40 million, eight month training programme.

Garvelink said training had been delayed by two years due to American special forces' commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Human rights observers have questioned whether training an army containing so many former insurgents would only make them more professional rebels.

"Are we going to make them better at killing or are we going to give them disciplined skills to obey the officers...so that they demonstrate restraint?" asked Col. Thomas Crowder, Africom-commissioned director for the office of security cooperation at the U.S embassy in Kinshasa.

"That's what we're striving to achieve," he said.

Typical media crap. Can't get stuff right.

SF isn't training the heathens... you may want to look at the brothers in blue

I just love State Department "Great Ideas".

**Pete** · 03-13-2010, 06:24

Was way down south working with some Airborne troops back in the 80's.

Was packed in a truck with them when we ran into a truck full of the Prsident's own. Our guys were terrified of them and said we should be also if we knew what was good for us. I found everybody's reaction to the incedent very interesting.

Marina · 03-14-2010, 17:19

It sounds like the British have been there for a while already. Semper Fi Marines!

British trainers help build Congo's force for peace

British soldiers have been helping to deliver high quality lessons in 'Peacekeeping English' and logistics to Congolese officers as part of a UK government scheme to enable the Congo's Armed Forces to play a greater role in maintaining their country's security.

. . .

And with enthusiastic graduates beginning to filter through the system, Britain's input is providing the Congolese with the skills they need to play a part in their country's future:

"There are members of the FARDC at all ranks from the lowest soldier all the way up who want the Army to improve," said United States Army officer Colonel Thomas Crowder, director of military co-operation.

"Courses like the British one here will help them to achieve that. They wanted help from the most professional militaries and I believe that they are getting it."

Blackdog · 03-16-2010, 14:45

Except maybe that SF is involved. Not sure who it would be since all ofthe groups are decisively engaged. Could be eaches from 1/10 etc. The US has been training congolese in the "heart of darkness" country for a long time using contractors working alongside of MONUC. Whether it will actually result in anything other than the rise of another Laurent Kabila is doubtful. For an interesting history go back and look at Che Guevara's experence in Eastern Congo. He went in hoping to whip up a little revolutionary fire but became completely disenchanted with the opportunism and greed of the leadership. Che left and the rebels got thier asses handed to them by "Mad Mike" Hoare. Mike would fit in well with this board!