UN-AU force for Sudan 'ready'

2007-10-31 13:24

Al-Fasher - A bolstered United Nations-African Union force charged with bringing peace to Sudan's ravaged Darfur region "may be" operational by early next year, said the head of the mission on Wednesday.

Rodolphe Adada made the announcement during the inauguration of the new force's headquarters in Darfur's main city of Al-Fasher, the day after United States President George W Bush called for the UN to "get moving" on its deployment.

The headquarters opened three months to the day after the UN Security Council on July 31 approved the new force of more than 26 000 troops and police, baptised UNAMID, to replace the current under-equipped AU deployment of 7 000.

Adada said: "This is a great day for UNAMID. Three months ago when the Security Council voted Resolution 1769 it was an idea and today we are a reality. Now we can begin the real work. We may be operational in the beginning of the next year."

The UN said earlier this month it had agreed with the AU to accept troop contingents from 16 countries, mostly from Africa but also from Bangladesh, Jordan, Nepal, the Netherlands, Scandinavian countries and Thailand.

Some troops had arrived already, but had been initially integrated into the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) while UNAMID was being set up.

The full force was not expected to be deployed until well into 2008.

- AFP