European troops headed to Darfur neighbors

October 3, 2007 (PARIS) — About 3,000 European security forces could start deploying to Chad and Central African Republic next month to protect hundreds of thousands of refugees and other civilians caught up in the spillover from the Darfur conflict, French officials said.

The European forces are expected to start deploying at the beginning of November, becoming at least partially operational by the middle of the month, a French official said. The official said the operation would coincide with the start of the long-awaited deployment, expected this month, of a 26,000-member joint African Union-UN force in Darfur itself.

The joint AU-UN force was to absorb the 7,000-member AU force, which has long been seen as too small and weak to be effective.

More than 200,000 people have been killed in four years of violence.

Eastern and southern Chad also host some 450,000 internally displaced people and refugees from Darfur and Central African Republic, while 2,600 Darfurians have fled to northern Central African Republic, already home to more than 200,000 internally displaced people.

French efforts to ensure the troops come from all over Europe, with a non-French commander, are aimed at dispelling notions that the operation is really aimed at shoring up France‘s interests in Africa, where it still wields considerable influence as a former colonial power.

Irish Defense Minister Willie O‘Dea said his Cabinet has approved the appointment of Maj. Gen. Pat Nash, deputy chief of staff of the Irish army, to command the mission.

Sweden, Poland and Belgium are offering between 100 to 200 troops each, one of the French officials said. Other contributing nations were not identified but could also supply troops, air power or other support.

(AP)