Earlier today, I was peering through The Daily Telegraph online, when I came across an encouraging article. In the past, I have expressed dismay at the actions of the UN in its attempts to bring order and safety to various parts of the world. Many times, to persuade unjust, corrupt governments and leaders of a country to listen to it, the UN has imposed sanctions.

This usually had the effect of depriving the general population of a country of basic commodities, rather than convincing those in authority. Whilst these sanctions were in force, there was a lot of debate about the next step, whilst at the same time the population were still suffering, either from the action/inaction of their leaders, or from the sanctions imposed upon them. When troops were finally sent in, they were placed under so many restrictions that, in many cases, they could only watch as atrocities happened around them. Far too often, unjust authorities could continue with their actions with UN troops on their soil.

Now I understand that all possible peaceful attempts must be exhausted before military force is used, but it seems that in the past all possible peaceful attempts had been exhausted and then nothing happened. A look back at the UN’s role in Rwanda and Somalia are not not glowing report cards. I also understand it is very difficult to make decisions of this magnitude, and should not be done lightly, so it’s possible that in their shoes, I might well procrastinate as well. Let us also understand that the troops under the UN’s command are human beings, but that they are also professional soldiers. They have chosen to become soldiers, with the consequences that entails.

With all this in mind, I must applaud those in control of the UN forces in Congo. For too long, the UN forces have sat there while people around them are terrorised, raped and murdered, amongst other atrocities. The current conflict in Congo has claimed an estimated 3 million lives, and has affected many many more in a brutal civil war, which has received very little coverage in the mainstream media. Last Tuesday though, the UN took preemptive action and carried out an offensive against those who were carrying out atrocities. Documents were seized and people were arrested, with the necessary force required to achieve the objective.

With this, maybe those who have defied the UN for so long will sit up and take notice? Only time will tell if this is the beginning of a new, stronger, UN, or whether this will backfire. What we can ascertain is that the course of action taken is now different from what happened in Rwanda and Somalia. Hopefully the outcome will be as well.