EU: $125m for Darfur

2004-10-22 20:17

Brussels - The European Union will provide up to $125m to support an African peacekeeping force preparing to deploy to the Sudanese region of Darfur, officials said on Friday.

EU foreign policy representative Javier Solana was expected to announce the offer to cover around half the costs of the expanded African Union mission on Saturday during talks at the AU's headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The AU's Peace and Security Council agreed on Wednesday to increase its peacekeeping force in Darfur from 390 to 3 320 troops and civilian police in an effort to end the violence. The one-year operation is expected to cost $220m, paid for mainly by the EU and the United States, according to council head Said Djinnitl.

"This is a major chance to improve the situation," EU spokesperson Cristina Gallach said of the mission. "It can be decisive."

Rwandan troops

The enhanced force led by Rwandan troops should be in the region by early next month.

Solana was flying on Friday to the Ethiopian capital for talks with AU officials and the Ethiopian government. He planned to hold talks on Sunday with Sudanese government leaders in the capital, Khartoum.

European diplomats said co-operation with the peacekeeping mission presented an opportunity for the Sudanese authorities, who face a threat of UN sanctions if they fail to disarm militias and help restore peace.

At least 70 000 people have died and 1.5 million forced from their homes in the Darfur crisis, which began in February 2003 when two rebel groups took up arms over what they regarded as unjust treatment by the government and ethnic Arab countrymen.

Major bloodshed ensued when pro-government militias called Janjaweed reacted by unleashing attacks on Darfur villages.

European military planners

Aside from funding, EU officials said the bloc would provide continued help with planning and logistics for the peacekeepers. A small group of European military planners are already working at African Union headquarters.

The EU funding still needs final approval from the union's 25 national capitals, but officials said governments had already indicated they would grant approval. The EU has already provided $15m for the monitoring mission.

Officials said the United States, Canada and Australia had also offered to help fly the African peacekeepers into Darfur. Much of the EU's financial assistance would go to providing rations, shelter and fuel for the force, officials said.

The AU force will include 450 unarmed military observers, a major increase from the 80 currently deployed there to monitor a shaky cease-fire.

The observers have been protected by an armed security force of 310 troops. That force will be increased to 2 341. The new mission with a one-year mandate will also include 815 civilian police officers and 164 civilian staff.

- AP