Burkina Faso troops join Darfur peacekeepers

August 4, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — An advance group of a Burkina Faso infantry battalion arrived on Tuesday to South Darfur state capital, Nyala, to take part for the first time in the AU-UN joint mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

The initial Burkina Faso group of peacekeepers consists of 134 soldiers. A further 133 personnel are scheduled to arrive in Nyala on Tuesday 11 August 2009. The remaining members are scheduled to arrive in Darfur by mid-September. When fully deployed they will number more than 800 soldiers.

“This advance party of the battalion will be deployed in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, and in Foro Baranga, just over 300 kilometres from El Geneina,” the UNAMID said today

The first group will be tasked with assisting in the expansion of Foro Baranga camp in preparation for the arrival of the main body of the unit and with coordinating the logistics of the contingent’s equipment.

Burkina Faso’s current contribution to UNAMID includes military observers, staff officers and one liaison officer.

With the arrival of these first troops from Burkina Faso today, the total number of military forces deployed in Darfur is 13,651 representing almost 70 per cent of the authorized number. Further troops are expected from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt respectively later this month.

(ST)