African Union peacekeepers in Sudan ineffective – report
Nov 9, 2005 (WASHINGTON) — The United Nations must eventually assume responsibility for security in the western Sudan region of Darfur because African Union peacekeepers are not up to the task, according to a report.
“With the recent upsurge in violence over the past two months, the African Union’s shortcomings have come into full focus,” said the report released Wednesday by the New York-based Refugees International.
The group provides humanitarian assistance and protection to displaced persons around the world.
The report said the African Union lacks the ability and the resources to carry out its job of monitoring the often-ignored cease fire in the vast stricken region.
“The AU is hobbled by a weak mandate, too few weapons and fewer than 7,000 troops to cover an area the size of Texas,” the report said.
It also said donor governments have failed to provide adequate support for the AU, while the Sudanese government places “innumerable obstacles in its path.”
As the African Union force continues to be found “ineffective due to resource, training and mandate constraints, their deterrence factor will decline,” the report said.
Robert Zoellick, the State Department’s second-ranking official, praised the AU force in a speech Wednesday in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.
“We strongly support the AU peacekeeping mission,” Zoellick said. “Its presence has constrained organized, large-scale violence.”
He said the planned delivery soon of 105 armored personnel carriers to the peacekeepers will help protect AU soldiers in their mission to protect Sudanese citizens.
“A clear (Sudanese) government statement in support of the AU mission would further demonstrate the government’s commitment to security and stability in Darfur,” Zoellick said.
Zoellick plans to visit Darfur on Thursday. His visit to Sudan is designed to help the country deal with the multiple crises it is facing.
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The report is available at: http://www.refugeesinternational.org/files/7222_file_NoPowertoProtect.pdf