An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 35 edge of the capabilities of UAVs and how their output can be incorporated into the targeting cycle, as for a number of years now MONUSCO has successfully utilised UAVs to record the presence and movement of armed groups to feed into the planning process for the Force Intervention Brigade. The other DF appointment, captain in the Information Operations cell, is the one that will shortly be handed over to another contingent. The main role of this appointment is targeting the local population and members of the various armed groups with MONUSCO messaging. Within the past year, for example, a batch text-messaging system has been brought online so that, in co-ordination with the service provider, MONUSCO can send brief messages directly to target audiences to support the conduct of operations. This tool was employed within the past number of months to aid in the search for a Tanzanian soldier who was (and remains) MIA post-contact with an armed group. The current security outlook for the Congo is, unfor- tunately, not positive. The president, Laurent Kabila, has served his constitutionally-permissible two terms in office but has not so far vacated his position, citing security concerns and the difficulties of holding elections in the cur- rent environment. His refusal to step down has resulted in significantly increased activity from state-sponsored armed groups in the country's volatile eastern border region. The UN has declared a level-three humanitarian emergency, its highest level of classification, in the region. MONUSCO continues to attempt to bring security to a country the size of Western Europe against a reducing fiscal envelope and partnered with ineffective national security and governance apparatus on the part of the host nation. In December 2017 an attack by an armed group on the Semuliki COB outside Beni in North Kivu province resulted in the deaths of 15 UN peacekeepers and the wounding of an additional 56. Irish personnel were closely involved in the response to this event and will continue to fill an important role in the mission in the run up to scheduled elections in December of 2018. The Nyiragongo Volcano, taken from a UN airbase on 12th March 2018. Archive photo of first Irish troops heading to the Congo. Archive photo were 'A' Coy, 36th Inf Bn fought the Battle of the Tunnel. Members of the 32nd Inf Bn being airlifted to the Congo.

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