Drones to be deployed in eastern DR Congo

KINSHASA. Drones will be deployed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in coming weeks, the special representative of the UN secretary general in DR Congo, Martin Kobler, said on Wednesday. Kobler who is also the head of the United Nations Mission for Stabilization of Congo (MONUSCO), said the acquisition of drones is not only linked to activities of M23 rebels, but it is also aimed at tackling other armed groups in the east of the country, among them the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). “Drones have an important role to play. They will carry out surveillance of the border and activities of armed groups in the east of the country,” Kobler said. Last month, the commander of MONUSCO force general Dos Santos Cruz announced that the UN force would launch its first drone to survey the eastern parts of the country in November. [Xinhua] [[[[ It is expected that by March and April 2014, drones will be able to transmit, in real time, images, photos and other activities captured by this pilotless object.