Ethiopia to provide 5 tactical helicopters to Darfur peacekeepers
April 9, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian government has agreed to provide the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) with 5 tactical helicopters.
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AUPSC), at its 185th meeting held on 6 April 2009 commanded the Ethiopian government for having agreed to provide five tactical helicopters to Darfur peacekeeping mission.
It further called on all countries having the necessary capabilities to provide UNAMID with the required key military enablers, “including medium transport units, an aerial reconnaissance unit and medium utility and tactical helicopters, to enhance the capacity of the Mission and enable it carry out its mandate more effectively.”
Last year, a UN official disclosed that they had received offers of helicopters from Bangladesh and Ethiopia. He however declined the Bangladeshi kit because it would not meet the UN requirements, adding the “Ethiopian stuff will and we will ask for more.”
The Bangladeshi offer included inadequate range and inability to fly at night, he further said.
UN officials say the mission of the 26,000-member peacekeeping force for Darfur may fail without air mobility and firepower. Diplomats have said several Western countries able to provide the helicopters are reluctant to do so because of a lack of confidence in the command and control structure for the joint force.
Rights groups published reports indicating that USA, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, Netherlands and Egypt among others have appropriate helicopters that they can make available for UNAMID.
Helicopters aside, the UNAMID deployment, agreed by Sudan in mid-2007, has been delayed by disputes with Khartoum over rules governing its presence and over which countries can contribute troops. Some 12,000 troops are currently in place.
International experts say the Darfur conflict among Sudanese army, pro-government militias and Darfur rebel groups has killed 300,000 people and made over 2.7 million homeless. Sudan says the figures are much lower and indicate some 10,000 victims.
(ST)
Aduol Liet
Ethiopia to provide 5 tactical helicopters to Darfur peacekeepers
Good job Ethiopia government and his president Mel. I wish some Africa governments will following you and it is something obvious that, they Ethiopian people were being doing outstanding job when helping some Sudanese during 21 years of the SPLM/SPLA movement. To be frank about their support, I think there are some African leaders that have not for gotten about Africa willingness those are like this Ethiopian, South African, Uganda and some few countries are knowing what they are doing in Africa Continent. They are doing their best in order to help people from Africa. I think they Ethiopian people maybe they did not know that, they had gotten a credit from the Southern Sudanese people and even some leaders have already gave an excellent to Mangusto government all around the world, because the success for Southern Sudanese movement apparently gave all Ethiopian people credits and should keep up.
I admire your willingness to help African citizens since Ethiopian were very friendly to Southern Sudanese peope then, we thinks your help also is important to many others African nations and I would encourage my collengues in the Sudan to build up our relationship with you guys perhaps, they Southern Sudanese are so prouding of what Ethiopia government did to them. We think they Ethiopians people were they one who stood up the situation in Sudan than any other nation in the world. Following by South Africa and Uganda and Kenya was just came lastly after Daniel Arop Moie lost his leadership. Daniel Moie was been bribery every single peace agreement called on that time. I think there are more things needed to be done on both sides Africa leaderships and the rest of the world, we can not afford to let this guy Omar Hassan al Bashir killing African Tribes in the Sudan this is unacceptable and I would like to see those African leaders to stand up with the ICC decision and be strong whatsover needed.I am not sure how some African people have define Africa however, from my own definition was that. I real strong belief that, Africa mean the people of Traditions or nations of Traditional unfortunately, they Arabs made influence in African Traditions has brough up such abuse and killing innocents people like this happening in Sudan. Any way I felt like some time maybe, my voice will be heard by African leaders and many others nations around the world in order to stop Omar al Bashir from killing Africa Tribes in the Sudan. Again thank Ethiopia government and Ethiopian president MR, Mel for your contribution of five Helicopers to help Africa Peace keeper forces but they are not enough because that situation need more powerful to show MR, Omar al Bashir the world are united against his ruler government.
Sincerely
By Aduol Liet.
U.S.A