US praises AU peace mission expansion in Darfur

WASHINGTON, April 30 (AFP) — The United States said that it welcomed the African Union’s decision to increase the size of its peacekeeping force operating in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.

Soldiers with the African Union Cease Fire Commission patrol the streets of Tawilla in northern Darfur, Sudan.

“We view the African Union as playing a central role in resolving the crisis in Darfur and applaud its commitment to the security and humanitarian needs of the people of this region,” said State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.

The AU’s Peace and Security Council said late Thursday it had agreed to increase the size of its Darfur mission from some 3,320 to be deployed by the end of May, to 7,731 by the end of September.

The council for the pan-African body also appealed to its 53 members to support the operation with troops and cash.

The State Department noted a 95 million dollar US contribution so far made toward the African Union mission, saying that it “looks forward to supporting the expanded mission.”

“The United States will continue to work with the African Union and the rest of the international community to support efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur.”

The Darfur conflict, which pits rebels against pro-government militia, has resulted in between 180,000 and 300,000 deaths and the displacement of some two million people.

The fighting began in February 2003 after after black African groups rebelled against what they see as persecution from Khartoum’s Arab-led government.

Last month, UN humanitarian affairs chief Jan Egeland said there was an urgent need for the expansion to prevent the number of displaced Darfur residents from rising to three or four million from the current two million.