More Senegalese troops join Darfur peace mission

February 26, 2009 (ELFASHER) — Some 150 Senegalese troops arrived yesterday to the capital of North Darfur, El-Fasher bring the total number of members in the Senegalese infantry battalion to 834, the UNAMID said.

The Senegalese peacekeepers, which are based in the capital of West Darfur state El-Geneina, are tasked with the security and confidence building patrols in the region and escorting the humanitarian conveys.

Besides, the Rwandan; Nigerian and South African among others, the Senegalese battalion was part of the original troops that transferred from AMIS to UNAMID on 31 December 2007.

The UN Security Council in July 2007 authorized the deployment of 26000 stronghold force in Darfur region. Currently there are 12,723 military personnel which represent more than 60 percent of the 19,555 troops allowed in the UN resolution.

However more than one year since the transfer from the African mission, the hybrid mission still in dire need for 18 helicopters to support the force but the countries asked for help have said they have none available.

Despite the relative calm this week in the troubled region, the UNAMID said that there had been reports of banditry in North Darfur, the state that recently witnessed an influx of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to its camps due to a fresh outburst of violence in South Darfur between the Sudanese army and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement.

(ST)