African Union to deploy Darfur ceasefire monitors

ADDIS ABABA, April 14 (Reuters) – The African Union (AU) will deploy military observers in the next week to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region to monitor a shaky truce between the government and rebels, a senior AU official said on Wednesday.

The AU’s commissioner for peace and security, Said Djinnit, said the observers will also determine which side was violating the ceasefire which came into effect on Sunday, after the U.S. State Department cited unconfirmed reports of attacks by government-backed militias.

“Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Namibia have agreed to send military officers to be deployed as observers in Darfur. They will be on the ground as soon as possible,” Djinnit told a news conference in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

A State Department spokesman said on Tuesday the United States had offered unspecified “logistical support” to help AU monitors enter and leave the area.

The pan-African body would also consider sending troops to Darfur if violence escalated, Djinnit said.

“If the situation in Darfur worsens, the AU Peace and Security Council, based on the mandate given to it will consider sending African forces to quell the violence in Darfur,” he said

Two rebel groups launched a revolt in remote Darfur in February last year accusing Khartoum of neglecting the arid region and arming marauding Arab militia who loot and burn African villages. Khartoum has branded the Arab militia or “Janjaweed” outlaws.

The United Nations says the fighting has affected more than one million people and forced more than 100,000 refugees over the border into Chad.

Djinnit said the AU had received conflicting reports on whether the truce was holding.
Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday the 45-day ceasefire was vaguely worded and did not force the government to disarm and disband the militias.