It
was a familiar sight at Kanyaruchinya, just a few kilometres north of the city
of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: White armoured personnel
carriers had taken up positions along the road.
Against
the backdrop of Mount Njiragongo, the majestic volcano that towers over the
town, Indian soldiers, some sporting magnificent handlebar moustaches, sat
around peering into their binoculars.
Huddled
behind the peacekeepers, a knot of local residents waited to see what would
happen next. The
sound of shelling rang out from the surrounding hills. Then silence. Nothing.
The crowd dispersed. People
in the east of DR Congo have an odd relationship with the UN peacekeepers.
Known
by its acronym Monusco, it is the largest such force anywhere in the world.
But, despite being around 20,000 strong, it has conspicuously failed to keep
the peace here in the decade and more of its existence.
