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The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as MONUC, has freed nearly two dozen children from the ranks of the country's armed forces this week, UN officials announced here on Monday.

In the eastern province of South Kivu, four children were separated from the newly integrated Congolese army (FARDC) as part of "Operation Zero Tolerance for children associated with armed forces," a MONUC-backed initiative, the officials said.

The children had been recruited by the mainly Tutsi rebel militia, the National Congress for People's Defense (CNDP), before joining the FARDC during the accelerated integration process.

 The integration process began after a peace deal was struck between the government and the CNDP.

1. • UN Defends Inaction on Mass Rapes in Eastern Congo, Government Missing in Action (August 26, 2010)
2. • Two Suspects Arrested in Attack on MONUSCO Base (August 20, 2010)
3. • Ban Ki-moon deplores deadly attack against blue helmets in North Kivu (August 18, 2010)
4. • Ban Ki-moon inaugurates new phase of UN mission in DR Congo (July 1, 2010)
5. • Congo Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Independence (June 30, 2010)
6. • Top UN envoy bids farewell to first batch of blue helmets leaving DR Congo (June 16, 2010)
7. • Veteran United States diplomat appointed to top UN post in DR Congo (June 9, 2010)
8. • UN to reduce DR Congo peace force (May 28, 2010)
9. • Security Council agrees to convert UN mission in DR Congo into stabilization force (May 28, 2010)
10. • U.S. Official Sees Improvement in Africa's Great Lakes Region (May 26, 2010)
11. • Back from DR Congo, Security Council set to review mandate of UN force (May 17, 2010)
12. • Security Council members depart for two-day visit to DR Congo (May 13, 2010)
13. • UN chief warns against early withdrawal from DR Congo (April 30, 2010)
14. • U.N. Security Council Cancels Congo Trip (April 16, 2010)
15. • DR Congo army regains control of Mbandaka (April 4, 2010)
16. • Enyele rebels enter major city in Equateur province (April 4, 2010)
17. • New strategy needed against LRA in DR Congo, says UN chief (March 28, 2010)
18. • UN mission in DR Congo vows continued support for army (March 24, 2010)
19. • Ex-rebels take over mineral trade extortion racket (March 11, 2010)
20. • UN: 90 Rwandan Rebels Killed in Eastern DRC (March 10, 2010)
21. • First set of UN troops could leave DR Congo by late June (March 6, 2010)
22. • UN, DR Congo discussing end to peacekeeping mission (March 4, 2010)
23. • U.S. Senator Durbin Calls on Rwanda to Name Rebels Involved in Genocide (February 16, 2010)
24. • Official Says MONUC Continues Help with Integrating Ex-Combatants Into Army (February 11, 2010)
25. • Peacekeepers Plan Operation Amani Leo with FARDC in North Kivu (January 19, 2010)
26. • MONUC outlines cooperation with FARDC in Operation Amani Leo (January 7, 2010)
27. • UN helping to monitor volcanic eruption in eastern DR Congo (January 4, 2010)
28. • DR Congo launches 'Amani Leo' military operation (January 2, 2010)
29. • Alan Doss: Human Rights Watch attack on MONUC 'shortsighted' (December 28, 2009)
30. • UN opens website detailing zero tolerance policy on sexual abuse by peacekeepers (December 24, 2009)

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