Canada pulls its peacekeepers from UN mission in Congo [Video]

Canada has withdrawn its military officers from a United Nations peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo, citing the “increasingly perilous security conditions” in the rebel-held city of Goma.

Critics say the Canadian government is abandoning the UN mission at a time when peacekeepers are desperately needed to protect thousands of civilians who have sought protection at UN bases in Goma.

The withdrawal was announced this week in a letter by Canadian diplomats at UN headquarters in New York. The letter, written by Canadian diplomats and seen by The Globe and Mail, said the federal government “has found it necessary to prioritize the safety and well-being of our personnel” because of the “increasingly perilous security conditions in Goma.”

The letter said the Canadian military personnel will be temporarily relocated, and Canada will be “supporting the mission remotely.” Canada will resume its presence in Congo “when conditions are deemed more secure for our …