UPSC Prelims 2002 · General Studies

Question 107: International Relations and Current Affairs

Recently, several hundred South Africa soldiers were sent to Burundi

ato side with the Tutsi tribe in the country’s civil war

bto side with the Hutu tribe in the ongoing ethnic conflict

cas a part of United Nations special force to keep control on the ethnic groups revolting against the government

das South Africa’s protection force to help mediate and agreement between warring groups of civil war

AnswerThe answer is (d).

In 2001 South Africa sent a protection force of several hundred soldiers to Burundi to guard political leaders returning from exile to join the transitional government under the peace agreement that Nelson Mandela had helped to mediate at Arusha. They were not there to side with the Tutsi or the Hutu, nor as a United Nations force; South Africa acted to support mediation among the warring groups.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) South Africa did not side with the Tutsi.
(b) South Africa did not side with the Hutu.
(c) It was a South African force, not a United Nations one.
(d) Right: a South African protection force supporting mediation.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2002, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.