Egyptian troops to leave for peacekeeping mission in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Aug 10, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — A 60-soldier military force is to arrive in Khartoum on Friday 11 August ahead of leaving to Darfur, said Egypt’s Ambassador to Sudan Mohamed Abdelmunim al-Shadhili.

Egypt is taking part in the African Union’s (AU) force in the western Sudanese region of Darfur to observe ceasefire between the Sudan’s government and rebels groups.

The number of Africain Union troops maintaining Darfur’s ceasefire is expected to reach 7, 000.

Rebels from ethnic African tribes took up arms in Darfur in February 2003, complaining of discrimination and oppression by Sudan’s Arab-dominated government.

The conflict has claimed between 180,000 and 300,000 lives, displaced around 2.4 million people and sent more than 200,000 fleeing to neighbouring Chad, sparking one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.