Australia sends 10 peacekeepers to Sudan

Nov 9, 2005 (CANBERRA) — The Australian Government has approved the deployment of Australian Federal Police (AFP) personnel to the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sudan.

10 AFP personnel will be deployed to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for an initial period of 18 months, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer and Justice and Customs Minister, Senator Chris Ellison announced today.

The AFP contribution forms part of the Government’s response to the humanitarian situation in Sudan, and has been made at the request of the UN. Australia is a long-standing and regular contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, including in Africa.

AFP personnel will join with their Australian Defence Force (ADF) counterparts in contributing positively to improving stability and peace in the south of Sudan through participation in the UNMIS operation.

The major role of UNMIS is to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005 between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, which ended the long-running north/south civil war. UNMIS also plays a role in supporting the African Union’s Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in the Darfur region.

The ADF has contributed 15 specialists to UNMIS, including air-movement and logistics support personnel and military observers. Their deployment began in May, following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1590 on 24 March which authorised the establishment of UNMIS.

Since May 2004, Australia has contributed $40.1 million in aid, mainly to Darfur, and since early 2003 Australia has issued more than 14,000 humanitarian visas to displaced Sudanese.