AU may send troops to Sudan

2004-07-28 23:04

Nairobi - The African Union has said it may deploy a "full-fledged peacekeeping mission" in Sudan's Darfur region to force the government-backed Janjaweed militia to lay down its arms in line with a ceasefire deal.

The pan-African body is already planning to send about 300 troops to Darfur by the end of July to protect its team of observers and monitors overseeing the implementation of a shaky ceasefire deal between the militia and rebel groups.

The AU's Peace and Security Council on Tuesday asked the body's chairperson to prepare "a comprehensive plan on how best to enhance the effectiveness of the AU mission on the ground."

"This includes the possibility of the said mission into a full-fledged peacekeeping mission, with the requisite mandate and size to ensure the effective implementation of the ceasefire agreement," an AU statement said. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA