Civilian protection and the image of the 'total spoiler': reflections on MONUC support to Kimia II

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Periodical article

Title:	Civilian protection and the image of the 'total spoiler': reflections on MONUC support to Kimia II
Author:	Levine, Daniel H.
Year:	2011
Periodical:	African Security Review (ISSN 2154-0128)
Volume:	20
Issue:	1
Pages:	95-113
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Subjects:	human security peacekeeping operations UN
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2011.561022
Abstract:	In 2009, the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) supported the Congolese military in operations to dismantle the Hutu-dominated FDLR (Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) militia group (Operation Kimia II), at massive human cost. Critics have primarily focused on MONUC's failure to protect civilians from direct attack, consonant with the general discourse on tactics for civilian protection. The present paper argues that, although these criticisms are valid, two crucial additional considerations should be kept in mind: the way that military operations can affect violence against civilians, and the way that moralizing the approach to armed groups, even those which have committed serious abuses, can limit military and political options - potentially in ways that increase civilian risk in the name of protecting them. Notes, ref., sum. (p. IX). [Journal abstract, edited]