UN troops to take over Darfur
2006-02-24 18:37
Addis Ababa - Ministers from Africa's peak peacekeeping body will meet next week to discuss proposals for United Nations troops to take over operations in Sudan's troubled Darfur region, said officials on Friday.
Last month, the African Union's peace and security council agreed in principle to wind up the AU Mission in Darfur (AMIS), the pan-continental group's first peacekeeping operation deployed in 2004.
Peace and security commissioner Said Djinnit said: "The purpose of the meeting is to decide on the proposal that the UN takes over the AU mission in Darfur.
"In January, the PSC accepted in principle to transfer AMIS to the UN (and) next Friday the ministers will discuss the modalities of this transition."
Conflict claims 300 000 lives
The AU force of 7 800, including troops and observers, had struggled to maintain order in the western region, where a three-year conflict had claimed 300 000 lives and displaced more than two million people.
War broke out in February 2003, after black ethnic groups launched a rebellion against Khartoum, which was brutally repressed by the Arab Islamist regime of President Omar al-Beshir.
Beshir was bitterly opposed to an international mission, saying only an African initiative could end the conflict.
In December, the AU said it needed an extra $130m to meet the $465m cost of the Darfur force, which was funded mainly by the European Union, the UN and the US.