AU denies threat of AU troops withdrawal from Darfur
October 2, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The African Union denied on Tuesday that troop contributing nations had threatened to pull their forces from a mission to Darfur after a rebel attack on an AU peacekeeping base.
The AU says 10 soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded after the weekend raid — the worst assault on AU forces since 2004 when the 7,000-strong mission was deployed to western Sudan.
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Said Djinnit said a joint United Nations-AU team would begin an inquiry into the attack, adding that the AU agreed its mandate in Darfur should be reviewed to allow its forces to respond if they are attacked.
“Member states are deeply angered about the killing and wounding of AMIS troops in Darfur. We will not rest until they (the perpetrators) are found out and brought to swift justice,” Djinnit told reporters.
“The ambassadors who represented troop contributing countries in the Council meeting, have expressed their commitment and determination to remain in Darfur until peace was restored,” he added.
Nigerian Ambassador to the AU and Ethiopia Obioma Opraha said Nigerian soldiers would remain in Darfur.
“Nigeria is not a coward country. We will not runaway when such things happens. Nigeria is determined to remain in Darfur,” he said.
“We are committed to do our best to bring peace to Darfur.”
James Klilangawe, Malawi envoy to the AU, who chaired the Peace and Security Council meeting on Tuesday said, the AU agreed that defence chiefs of troop contributing countries would meet either in Addis Ababa or Sudan to discuss the mission.
“They will discuss what mistakes were made and what areas would be improved,” he said.
Hillary
AU denies threat of AU troops withdrawal from Darfur
It is a sad story. I really pitty the victims of the attack. the world should revise its policies of peace keeping.this incident shows clearly that people of Darfur are not ready for peace, whether being Khartoum government or Darfurians themselves.
the incident does not require investigation because the civilians and the rebel groups plus the government knows who control the area. it is not a question of finding who did it, but is the question of telling the truth. I do believe that if the AU forces are serous they would make a serous offensive and atleast ^kill two or more of the attackers in order to identify who they are. the principle of nuetrality and not attacking any attacker makes it clearly that there is a weakness in the mission. how can you silence an illiterate enemy who is aggressively demanding to kill you and the people you protect? how can an armed villager and religously indoctrinated person spare lives when his mission is to kill?
stop playing with peoples lives. to me it is the weakness of the commanders of the forces. you are supporse to tell them to open fire and repel every nonesense.
next time please AU dont just sell your fellows keeping principles of people who are seated enjoying Coffee in Addis Ababa. fight to rescue your lives
Ndipiwe
AU denies threat of AU troops withdrawal from Darfur
As A proudly African who recently left south darfur and happens to have been deployed in muhajeria (SLA (M) stronghold and having experienced atrocities committed by unpatriotic people of that country, i learnt the unfortunate sunday september 30 incident in haskanita with dismay. if it was really JEM who committed those killings, one thing is puzzling me, how in the world would it gain access into SLA (M) stronghold and start shooting without being heard by SLA? is this some sort of working together by SLA with JEM in achieving their goal? i want to quote one of South Africa’s greatest sons “Solomon Mahlangu who was sent to the gallows by the then apartheid government, just before he was to be hanged he said, i quote “tell them that their blood will nourish the tree of freedom” meaning whoever martyred those military men must know their blood will not just spill and suck by the sand of sudan but will one day free the people of sudan. to those cowards who committed these senseless killings, i hope one day i will also be part of those who will hunt you down and make sure you are brought before the international court and be sentenced to death because you are cowards.