Congo Update: UN Commander Bails Out

Hey, it's not the French running away! Nah, just the Spanish commander of the UN forces turning tail, not unlike the Spanish government did after the 3-11 train bombings. Except that this time, apparently he's the only one in actual danger:

The commander of the United Nations' peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has left the post as the mission prepares to defend territory from advancing rebels.
Lieutenant General Vicente Diaz de Villegas y Herreria, of Spain, "indicated that for personal reasons he will not be able to continue with his assignment as planned,'' according to an e- mailed statement from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office.
The UN has appointed Brigadier General Ishmeel Ben Quartey of Ghana to head the force while it looks for a replacement.
The peacekeepers are poised to defend Goma, the capital of eastern North Kivu province, as rebels from the National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP, advance after two months of clashes between the CNDP and the national army.

Previous reporting on this can be found here

By: Widow 6-7