Now the Congolese government wants the troops to begin a phased withdrawal. This comes at the very moment when the rebel group M23, backed by Rwanda, has launched a fresh offensive.

“NZZ Format” follows the commander of the peacekeeping force, Khar Diouf, as he heads out on operations to the front lines and into refugee camps. But neither he nor his Blue Helmets manage to push the rebels back or prevent massacres. Their failure is echoed by voices like lorry driver Sadiki Makeke and activist Rebecca Kabugho, who both offer a glimpse into the harsh reality of everyday life in Goma. Eighty years after the founding of the United Nations, the question remains in Congo as well what UN peacekeeping missions are truly able to achieve.