UN extends Sudan peacekeeping mission six months

Sept 23, 2005 (UNITED NATIONS) — The UN Security Council on Friday extended the peacekeeping mission in Sudan by six months, a widely expected move as the global body tries to help the shattered country on the road to peace.

The council voted unanimously to extend the mandate “with the intention to renew it for further periods” — a sign of its commitment to a January peace deal that ended a 21-year civil war fought by the Muslim Arab-led government and rebels in the mostly Christian and animist south.

Sudan’s new national unity Cabinet was sworn in Thursday, a key step under the peace deal.

Earlier this week, the top U.N. envoy for Sudan, Jan Pronk, gave the council a sobering assessment of the situation there, warning violence was on the rise in the Darfur region and criticizing nations that have not made good on their promises to supply peacekeepers and cash.

Pronk said humanitarian programs have been underfunded by 50 percent for 2005. Though humanitarian and development programs have a budget of $1.9 billion (euro1.55 billion) this year, they have received only $950 million (euro777.16 million).

In March, the council agreed to send 10,700 peacekeepers to Sudan to monitor the accord. Pronk said earlier this week that the troop buildup has proceeded slowly, with delays from nations that were supposed to contribute both materiel and soldiers.

(AP/ST)