Ethiopian troops depart for Darfur to boost peacekeeping mission
August 13, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia today dispatched 125 peacekeeping troops to Sudan’s Darfur, in a bid to bolster the peacekeeping operation of the joint United Nations-African Union force (UNAMID).
The 125-member unit, which consists of military and water engineers will mainly be engaged in drilling sinking water wells in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur. The mission will also carry out de-mining and other military operations. Sudan Tribune has learnt.
Speaking at a departure ceremony here on Friday, state Defense Chief of Staff, General Samora Younus said Ethiopia would continue to playing significant role in regional and continental peacekeeping and peacemaking operations.
He expressed confidence that the troops will effectively carryout their duties.
Engineering department head, Lieutenant General Bacha Debelle, said the Ethiopian peace keeping missions had won the honor of Africans with its outstanding achievement in various peacekeeping missions in various countries.
He called on the group to win the hearts and minds of the people where ever they were deployed, urging them to successfully discharge their responsibilities and be a source of pride to the government and people of Ethiopia.
The military official said Ethiopia has proved its firm commitment to peace keeping missions; citing the country’s missions in Rwanda, Burundi and Liberia.
Ethiopia has already deployed a 1,600-member infantry battalion to Sudan. Last year the horn of Africa nation also deployed 5 tactical helicopters and a 200-member air force unit. Their principal duties include conducting security patrols, enhancing security and fostering confidence within the local population, as well as conducting escorts for humanitarian convoys.
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DASODIKO
Ethiopian troops depart for Darfur to boost peacekeeping mission
I hope that Ethiopian know that the war that kept Ethiopia as a free land in Africa was fought by people of Darfur. The thing which is not mentioned by Ethiopian modern rulers. These are historical facts. The Sudan modern rulers always run to Ethiopia calling them brothers, and they think that the brotherhood is based on similarity of colors between people of North Sudan and Ethiopian, but this is not the relation. Its because peopel of Darfur died for Ethiopia. I would not dislcose when but let our brothers in Ethiopia to know it. The hint; people of Darfur were kings between 1414/ 1916.
telfajbago
Ethiopian troops depart for Darfur to boost peacekeeping mission
I hope you will be source of bride to your Country and discharge your duties according to the need on the ground which is protection of genocide survivors .I have bright hope that Ethiopian will not fell on the hole of the regime to implement it’s policies as today the head of the UNAMID mission in Sudan Gambari was hired by the genocide regime to dismantle the IDPs camps. You are going to drill wells, but from where do you will get the fuel to try the pumps you are fixing or operate your machines? As the regime today is denying fuel to operate the already existing pumps in Kalma IDP camp, using water and food as tools of war