UN approves of drone use in Congo conflict

The United Nations wants to use drones for the first time to monitor fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where Rwanda has been accused of aiding rebels, officials said yesterday.

Peacekeeping chiefs have been in contact with the governments of DR Congo and of Rwanda about the sensitive move, which could set a precedent that would worry other United Nations members, diplomats said.

UN leaders are looking for ways to strengthen their peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO,
where guerrillas from the M23 rebel movement have taken over much of mineral-rich North Kivu province.