United Nations - Monday, April 28, 2008 4:46 - 0 Comments

More Allegations UN Armed Militias, Smuggled Gold and Ivory

The BBC is reporting that the UN has covered up claims that its troops in Democratic Republic of Congo gave arms to militias and smuggled gold and ivory. The allegations, based on confidential UN sources, involve Pakistani and Indian troops working as peace keepers.

The UN investigated some of the claims in 2007, but said it could not substantiate claims of arms dealing, but UN insiders told the BBC’s Panorama they had been prevented from pursuing their inquiries for political reasons.

An 18-month BBC investigation for Panorama has found evidence that:

- Pakistani peacekeepers in the eastern town of Mongbwalu were involved in the illegal trade in gold with the FNI militia, providing them with weapons to guard the perimeter of the mines.

- Indian peacekeepers operating around the town of Goma had direct dealings with the militia responsible for the Rwandan genocide, now living in eastern DR Congo.

- The Indians traded gold, bought drugs from the militias and flew a UN helicopter into the Virunga National Park, where they exchanged ammunition for ivory. Continue…