South African Police join Darfur peacekeeping mission

August 16, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Some 79 police officers from the South African police arrived in Darfur on Friday 14 August, to join the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

The officers arrived in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and will begin induction training before they are deployed across the troubled Darfur province.

With these new arrivals, UNAMID now has more than half of its authorized strength of police advisers on the ground.

UNAMID’s police strength now stands at 2,222.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1769 (2007) authorized the deployment of an appropriate civilian police component consisting of more than 3,500 police officers, with 19 formed police units comprising up to 140 personnel each.

According to the UNAMID, the security situation in Darfur is relatively calm. However, minor banditry activities and car-jacking were reported in North Darfur.

(ST)