AU to double troops in Sudan
2005-04-29 09:42
Addis Ababa - The African Union has agreed to more than double the size of its peacekeeping force in Sudan's western Darfur region, a spokesperson for the group said.
The AU's Peace and Security Council on Thursday approved boosting the force from 2 200 to more than 7 700, including nearly 5 500 troops, 1 600 civilian police and 700 military observers, said African Union spokesperson Assane Ba.
AU Peace and Security Commissioner Said Djinnit told journalists after the meeting that the enhanced force would be in place by the end of September. Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda have pledged to contribute troops, he said.
The Darfur conflict broke out in February 2003 after rebels took up arms, complaining of discrimination by Sudan's Arab-dominated government. The government is accused of responding by backing a scorched-earth counterinsurgency by Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed.
500 people dying a day
War-induced hunger and disease has killed more than 180 000 people, according to United Nations estimates.
"We are concerned over the continuing crisis in Darfur and condemn the continued attacks against defenceless civilians," Djinnit said. "These extra troops will further promote a more secure environment and help build confidence as well as protecting civilians."
The council did not discuss newly announced talks with Nato on possible logistical support, he said.
Djinnit also said the council did not discuss changing the force's mandate to make it more robust, something the AU spokesman had earlier said was on the agenda.
The force currently has orders to monitor a shaky ceasefire signed just more than a year ago, with only limited powers to protect civilians being attacked. But an AU report had recommended that its troops should be allowed to intervene to protect civilians from violence that already has killed tens of thousands of people in the region.
Even as the AU was preparing to send in a larger force, the UN's special envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk, said a 12 000-strong peacekeeping force was needed in Darfur by early next year. He said that getting such a force in place depended on the Sudanese government and rebels signing a peace deal.
African leaders have said they would also need more logistical support from rich countries to deploy a force of that size.
"The protection of the civilians in Darfur should be left to the Sudanese civilian police," Alhassein said.
Pronk said the situation in Darfur had improved since last year, but said 500 people were still dying every month.
He also said that serious violations of a ceasefire - most of them committed by insurgents - were continuing.
- AP