Egypt to deploy 2100 peacekeepers in Sudan’s Darfur
September 24, 2007 (CAIRO) — Egypt will deploy two thousand one hundred soldiers to a joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, a semi-official daily newspaper reported Sunday.
“Egypt offered to provide this force with more than 2100 soldiers, policemen and observers, in a step which reflects President Mubarak’s deep interest in maintaining stability in this Sudanese province,”said Ambassador Maged Abdelfatah, the Egyptian permanent representative to the United Nations in statements to Al Ahram.
He added that Egypt would also take part in the command of the force operations.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has selected a Nigerian commander of the force, adding the United Nations is expected to select a suitable number of the Egyptian soldiers in appreciation of Egypt’s African position and her keen interest in the key issues preoccupying the African Continent.
The high level meeting held on Friday 21 September, senior diplomats from 26 countries called on nations to pledge financial and other aid to the planned African Union-United Nations force of up to 26,000 troops and police for Sudan’s western region.
Aboul-Gheit said the Egyptian offer to positively take part in the international troops which are planned to be sent to Darfur was highly welcomed by all concerned parties mainly the Sudanese government given the world appreciation of the Egyptian military in terms of technical capabilities and high logistics.
He also supported Sudan’s rejection of non-African troops in Darfur. Aboul Gheit said that the African continent can provide the required numbers to complete the formation of the hybrid force to be deployed in Darfur without having to resort to forces from outside Africa.
The deployment of the joint African Union-U.N. peacekeeping force faces delays, however, due to a lack of aviation, transport and logistics units, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
Egypt has deployed 78 troops to join African Union peacekeepers in Darfur in last May.
An Egyptian officer, Colonel Ihab Ahmed, was killed at the end of may 2007. He was part of a U.N. light support package to assist AU peacekeepers trying to quell violence in Sudan’s west.
(ST)