32 Indian peacekeepers injured, 1 child dead in Congo blast
The Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday witnessed an explosion in its eastern region which injured 32 Indian peacekeepers and led to the death of an 8-year-old child. The cause for the blast was not immediately known. Reports state that the peacekeepers were injured in the middle of their morning run in the western Goma neighbourhood.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is located in Central Africa and is the 11th largest country of the world. It is also the 18th most populated country in the world with a population of over 80 million. The DRC is known for being wealthy in natural resources but political instability, lack of infrastructure, deep rooted corruption have limited its development.
Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is a peacekeeping force established in the DRC by the UN. In June 2010, total strength of UN peacekeeping troops in the DRC exceeded 20,000. As much as more than 30 countries have extended military and police personnel for purposes of peacekeeping in the DRC.
India
India is the single largest contributor of military and police personnel for peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Joseph Kabila
The Congo blast threatens to have a compound effect to already existing tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. People in the DRC fear current President Joseph Kabila's return to Presidency for the third time this December.
