Arab League urges deployment of Darfur force
By Rashid Saeed
December 7, 2007 (PARIS) — Arab League Secretary-General has urged deployment of the African Union-United Nations hybrid force in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.
Musa said there is time to agree over the pending issues up to the next spring indicating that the implementation of the Heavy Support Package — to pave the way for the hybrid force deployment — is not yet ended.
Sudan and the UN trade accusations over the responsibility for delay in troops deployment. The Security Council resolution specified the force would be “predominantly African.” Exactly what that means has proved controversial.
UN officials say may not be able to meet the deadline of December 31 set by resolution 1769 as a result of Sudan’s objections to the composition of the force. The international body insists on the critical need for an infantry battalion from Thailand, a Special Forces unit from Nepal and an engineering unit from the Nordic countries.
Khartoum says the initial agreement over the hybrid force stipulates African troops with the logistical and technical support of the UN. President al-Bashir says he just accepts troops from China and Pakistan.
Musa disclosed that Arab League had refused since the beginning to play alone any role in the resolution of the conflict in order “to avoid getting snared in the trap that presenting Darfur crisis as a conflict between African and Arabs.”
He said that the Arab League was and is still acting hand to hand with the African Union and provides all the necessary support until the end of the crisis.
Arab League Secretary-General hailed “the positive role” played by the former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who played a significant role to prevent transformation of Darfur crisis to an open conflict between Africans and Arabs.
Musa underscored that Sudanese government could not be held sole responsible for delay in the deployment of the peacekeeping force.
He also pointed out that Egypt had proposed to the UN peacekeeping unit to contribute by three thousand troops in the Hybrid Operation. He Added that Egypt didn’t get any response, while the UN officials insisting on the contribution of other countries.
The new force will be the world’s largest peacekeeping operation, with some 26,000 troops and police mandated to protect civilians in Darfur, but the UN had indicated it would choose only troops that meet UN technical conditions set by the peacekeeping unit.
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Andrew Woja Henry
Arab League urges deployment of Darfur force
Amr Musa,
You have strength this time to support a swift deployment of UN-hybride force in Darfur, something that we have been crying for. That is wonderful. I hope it is the true voice of the Arab and Islamic people you are representing.
However, what I don’t understand is the idea of Islamizing Africa and the entire world. If that alone is the agenda of your organization or people then I thought you have done it already in Darfur. The people of Darfur are now muslims and in that case I don’t see any reason why the Islamic government of Khartoum (where Darfurians were once their supporters) has made them as enemies and ready to eliminate them at all cost. With this in mind, I have no doubt for the Arab League agenda that it is for the Arabization and for the promotion of Arab (not muslim) interest in the world.
Pastor Andrew Woja Lo Henry
Dhieu Dok
Arab League urges deployment of Darfur force
This is just a game and a fear from the International community to end the violent in Darfur. If Beshir can acccept troops from China and Pakistan why not from other nations who have heart for suffering population? Are Chinese and Pakistanis Africans? This time black africans should wage a war against islamists who are robbibg them of their identity.