Darfur JEM cautiously optimistic on new peacekeeping force
January 1, 2008 (LONDON) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) today said it hopes that the transition of the peacekeeping forces in Darfur from the African Union (AU) command to UN command “is more than just a symbolic handover”.
A joint African-United Nations force took over peacekeeping duties in Darfur on Monday and existing AU forces switched their green berets to the UN blue ones.
However Sudan not signed off on the Status of Force (SAF) agreement that governs the work of the new force. It has refused to allow night flights — except for medical evacuation — or large U.N. cargo planes.
Additionally, the government has attempted to require the force to give it advance notice of all movements and to ensure that its military can scramble U.N. radio communications when it is conducting operations.
Sudan has also refused to allow non-African units in Darfur including Swedish, Thai and Nepalese troops.
Adam said that they don’t want a new force “that inherits the impotence of the African Union forces”.
“If the new force does not enforce robust mandate to protect civilians and provide security then it is pointless” he added.
The UN-AU hybrid force is still lacking helicopters and western nations have been reluctant to provide them because of their dissatisfaction with the command and control structure of the force according to UN diplomats speaking on background.
The JEM official urged the international community “to provide all necessary resources that will enable the force to operate in full capacity”.
Adam all said that UN Security Council must ensure that Sudan fully complies with UN resolution 1769 and facilitate the troop deployment.
“The force is long overdue and the Darfurian people can wait no longer. Khartoum has succeeded in wasting time since the resolution was adopted four months ago. This is an unacceptable situation and its time to put an end to this” he added.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died in the conflict, which Washington calls genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use. The Sudan government says 9,000 people have been killed.
(ST)