137 Senegalese police officers join Darfur Peacekeepers
August 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) received yesterday contingent of 137 police officers from Senegal.
The Senegalese formed police unit will be deployed in El-Geneina, West Darfur, alongside two Nigerian FPUs already based in the area.
Senegal’s contribution to UNAMID currently includes 19 police advisers as well as a military battalion deployed in West Darfur, alongside two Nigerian FPUs already based in the area.
Meanwhile, 76 police officers from Nigeria and Nepal are presently in Khartoum awaiting deployment to Darfur.
With the arrival of the new unit, UNAMID now has a total of 11 formed police units, with a total strength of 1,534 from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Jordan and Senegal.
An Egyptian formed police unit is expected to be deployed soon. Also the UNAMID plans to have some 15 FPUs deployed on the ground by end of December 2009.
On 31 July 2007, the UN Security Council authorized the establishment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and that it should consist of up to 19,555 military personnel, including 360 military observers and liaison officers, as well as an appropriate civilian police component of up to 3,772 police personnel and 19 formed police units comprising 140 personnel each.
(ST)