UN names German diplomat to head DR Congo mission

UN leader Ban Ki-moon today named German diplomat Martin Kobler as the new head of the UN mission in Democratic Republic of Congo as it takes a tougher line on armed groups in the country.
Kobler moves to the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) from his current troubleshooting post as head of the UN operation in strife-torn Iraq. He had also been deputy head of the UN mission in Afghanistan and a German ambassador to Iraq and Egypt.
Kobler takes the place of US diplomat Roger Meece who will end his term next month.
MONUSCO has more than 17,000 troops and the UN has started its first offensive "intervention brigade" in eastern DR Congo in a bid to counter the threat from M23 rebels and other armed groups.

The UN will also use surveillance drones for the first time in DR Congo to monitor arms and fighters crossing the country's borders.