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25 May 2012
   
 
 
Fren ch Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie yesterday declared "mission accomplished" for the European Union force sent to quell ethnic unrest in the town of Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Alliot-Marie was speaking on French TV5 television after returning from a visit to Uganda and the DRC, where she visited troops from the French-led "Artemis" force.

"This very first autonomous operation by the European Union is a historic moment," she said.

"It's certainly a model for the European rapid intervention force we aim to put together by the end of this year".

She added: "It's mission accomplished." Alliot-Marie said Artemis had carried out "an extremely difficult mission in almost impossible logistical conditions", in what she described as a "very hostile environment".

She said: "Today the town of Bunia has gone back to its normal business... confidence has returned".

Interethnic massacres between the minority Hema community and the majority Lendu in the DRC's troubled northeastern Ituri region have claimed the lives of 50 000 people since 1999 and displaced half a million others.

The violence led to the deployment of the Artemis force in the former flashpoint town of Bunia in June.

The UN mission to the DRC, known by its French acronym Monuc, is preparing to take over from Artemis in September, replacing the EU force in Bunia with a 3 800-strong contingent of mainly Bangladeshi troops. – Sapa-AFP.
Edited by: laurian clemence
 
 
 
 
 
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