South African police leave for Sudan

JOHANNESBURG, May 24, 2005 (Xinhua) — Forty-six police officers left here for Darfur on Monday to join the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).

“The members will be going to Darfur to monitor the service delivery of the Sudanese government and to build good relations with the people there and the police, among other things,” Police spokeswoman Director Sally de Beer said.

De Beer said the police officers, six of whom were women, would not be participating in any military activities or get involved in any conflict situations in the region.

The group, together with police officers from other African countries, are to fall under the command of Anand Pillay, a South African-appointed Commissioner of the AMIS Civilian Policing Component in Darfur.

Other duties of the police while in Darfur were to give technical advice and impart their knowledge on the successful adoption and implementation of community policing.