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Connect-World, December 1, 2008

"The response seems to be like a seminar" - Egeland

A coalition of coalition of Former Presidents (including Ireland's Mary Robinson), Prime Ministers, diplomats, military commanders and others have sent an open letter to EU leaders urging them to deploy an EU force for the Eastern DRC. One signatory, Jan Egeland, the former UN special envoy on humanitarian affairs, told the Guardian: "This is far worse than anything else on the face of earth, and yet the response seems to be like a seminar."

European ministers are due to discuss the feasibility of an EU troop deployment to east Congo this week. However, the European Union appeared hesitant and divided on Monday.

Congolese Tutsi rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda threatened war on Saturday unless Congo's government entered a new round of talks with him.

(Jan Egeland and Juan Mendez are available for interview. For more information or interviews please contact Ian Bray, Oxfam 01865 472289, 07721 461 339.)

See also: Congo war goes regional and "What should be done when people are being killed?" - Kouchner

A short, recent history of Congo (videographic, Economist). Timeline: Democratic Republic of Congo, Key facts (BBC). Fact box, Briefing (Reuters AlertNet). Contact details for Irish NGOs.

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