'Peacekeepers' launch attacks

2006-01-12 18:26

Anthony Mitchell

Addis Ababa - Sudanese troops are disguising themselves as African peacekeepers to launch surprise attacks on rebels in the country's troubled Darfur region, the African Union chairperson charges.

In a report to be submitted to the AU's Peace and Security Council on Thursday, AU Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare said the Sudanese troops were painting their vehicles white, the colour of AU peacekeepers' vehicles "to disguise their identities and launch surprise attacks on their opponents".

"This new development threatens to undermine the credibility of (the African Union peacekeeping mission) and draw the mission into the conflict," Konare said.

He said three government vehicles and a helicopter gunship had been spotted painted white.

"The government should ensure that no white coloured vehicles are used for military operations. The government should stop using white aircraft and vehicles for any security related activity," Konare said.

A 6 964-strong African Union military and police force has been struggling to stabilise Darfur, saying it needs more financial and other support from the international community.

In a report on Wednesday, the Boston-based Physicians for Human Rights said UN peacekeepers should be deployed to Darfur because the AU force lacks the resources to be effective.

Growing number of violations

The UN estimates that at least 180 000 people have died, mainly through famine and disease, and several million more have either fled into neighbouring Chad or been displaced inside Sudan since the conflict began in February 2003.

In his report, Konare said peacekeepers have noted a growing number of violations of a tattered April 2004 ceasefire. Since May 2005, there has been 139 breaches by the army, the rebels, and "uncontrolled and proliferating various armed militias", he said.

Sudan's government needs to take greater steps to protect the rights of civilians in the region, Konare said.

"Arbitrary arrest and detention, unlawful killings, beating, abductions and gender based violence still continue across Darfur," he added.

"Civilians are still being attacked in their communities and forcibly displaced from their homes."

He said the peacekeepers must act more "robustly" to protect civilians in Darfur.

Peacekeepers themselves have been attacked. Five peacekeepers and two civilian staff have been killed in attacks by unknown gunmen in the last four months, with banditry and attacks against aid workers also increasing.

- SAPA