The Security Council extended the U.N. peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo for a year on Friday and authorized its Intervention Brigade to keep undertaking offensive operations against armed groups, but it also called for "a clear exit strategy" for the U.N.'s largest force. The resolution adopted by the council kept the force's ceiling at 19,815 military personnel and 1,441 police until March 31, 2015. It also keeps in place an Intervention Brigade, which has an unprecedented mandate to take offensive military action against rebel groups to help end the east's long-running conflict by neutralizing and disarming the fighters, AP reported. The council commended the force, known as MONUSCO, "for the positive impact on peace and stability" in eastern Congo. At the same time, it strongly condemned armed groups for continuing to destabilize eastern Congo and demanded that they immediately halt all violence. It also warned that rebel fighters abusing human rights, including by attacking civilians, will be held accountable. The Congo conflict is a spillover from the 1994 genocide in neighboring Rwanda. Hundreds of Hutus who participated in the mass slaughter escaped into Congo and still fight there, along with other armed groups. -- SPA 00:03 LOCAL TIME 21:03 GMT تغريد
