Ethiopia begins logistical deployment to Darfur hybrid force

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

March 29, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia on Friday began transporting military logistics to Sudan as part of the United Nations/African Union peace keeping mission.

The Ethiopian ministry of defence today said that all the necessary military logistics required for the Ethiopian peacekeeping force to carryout its mission successfully are being transported to the area through the Djibouti port.

Ethiopia, among other African countries sending peacekeeping forces to Sudan, offered 5000 peace keepers to Darfur but so far 1500 of them are accepted to join the hybrid force.

According to Brigadier General Nigussie Lemma, who is in charge of the Ethiopian mission to Darfur, Ethiopia will deploy its forces in Darfur following the military logistics arrival.

Ethiopia has also promised to provide two helicopters to the hybrid force.

The AU and UN have started last month to deploy peacekeeping forces to bring peace and stability in Darfur.

The hybrid force will consist of about 26,000 peacekeepers; the majority of them are expected to be African troops.

Since the beginning of this year the UNAMID replaced the 7,800 forces of the AU Mission in Darfur (AMIS). From the 26000 troops of the hybrid force, only 9000 are deployed now on the ground.

(ST)