Two Russian pilots, Congolese officer die in helicopter crashes

[TomSea]

Two Russian pilots, Congolese officer die in helicopter crashes
By Allen Cone   |   Jan. 31, 2017 at 1:40 PM

Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Two helicopters crashed while on a reconnaissance mission against rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing two Russian pilots and a Congolese officer, the military said.

The Russian-built MI-24 copters crashed in "bad weather" in mountainous terrain Friday east of the country near the borders with Rwanda and Uganda, Gen. Leon Mushale, the Congo's operational commander in North Kivu Province, told reporters in Goma.

More: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/01/31/Two-Russian-pilots-Congolese-officer-die-in-helicopter-crashes/6461485884209/

[TomSea]

I was not aware they were there; sad. They were probably there fighting rebel/terrorists though I don't think that conflict involves much Islamic extremism vs. other hot spots.

[TomSea]

This other article reads that crew members were Georgian (part of former USSR) and a Byelorussian.

The article ends saying these people are mainly "peacekeepers", so UN or EU action?

http://dfwatch.net/2-military-helicopters-with-georgian-crew-crash-in-eastern-congo-47503

2 military helicopters with Georgian crew crash in eastern Congo

by DFWatch staff | Feb 1, 2017
Mi24-Congo

DRC Mi-24 military attack helicopter. (davric/Wikimedia.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Two Mi-24 military helicopters with a combined crew of at least four crashed on Friday in North Kivu province near the border with Rwanda and Uganda, authorities reported on Monday.

Tbilisi based military magazine Arsenal wrote that both helicopters belonged to the military of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but the crew one of the helicopters was Georgian, while the crew of the second one consisted by Belarusian personnel.

...

Radio Okapi reported, based on military sources, that the helicopters crashed while pursuing fighters from the former Congolese rebel group M23, one of the largest armed groups among dozens in the country, which controlled huge strips of eastern Congo in 2012 and 2013 before it was defeated by Congolese and UN forces.

Georgia has been participating in the EU-led peacekeeping mission in Africa since June 2014 and parliament later increased the number of soldiers serving in the EU military training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) from five to 20.

In the fighting over there, it seems to largely be Militias, Rebels, lots of mineral wealth.

[geronl]

That's confusing and another article says they were captured by rebels and tortured to death

[TomSea]

One wouldn't think it'd be separate incidences; we will see.

UPI is a good source; and then, the other is for the country of Georgia, one would think they would know.