US called on to back AU forces to stop Darfur violence

NAIROBI, July 22, 2005 (Xinhua) — The United States should provide more support to the African Union forces to stop violence against women in the Sudan’s war-ravaged western region of Darfur, humanitarian organization urged on Friday.

A Rwandan African Union soldier patrols at Abushouk camp near El Fasher in North Darfur, Nov. 3. (Reuters) .

“The US should provide training and support to countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) on prevention of exploitation and abuse,” said a statement by Refugees International (RI).

The aid agency said AMIS troops operate under a mandate that allows them to protect civilians encountered who were “under imminent threat and in the immediate vicinity, within the limits of mission capability” as civilian protection is the responsibility of the Sudanese government.

According to RI, wherever AMIS forces were present, violence had diminished.

However, the force still has inadequate numbers and an insufficiently robust mandate to satisfactorily protect women in Darfur.

AMIS currently has some 3,000 personnel in Darfur, but plans toexpand the force to about 7,500 by September.

“Even 7,700 troops will not be sufficient to provide protectionfor the women of Darfur,” RI said.

“The mandate, however, is perhaps more important. A clear and strong mandate to protect civilians is critical if AMIS is to be able to prevent Darfurian women from being attacked and raped,” it added.