African Union sends reconnaissance mission to Darfur

NAIROBI, May 8 (Reuters) – The African Union (AU) has sent officials to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region on a nine-day mission to assess conditions for deploying ceasefire monitors, the pan-African body said.

Fighting has flared in remote Darfur between Sudanese government forces and rebels despite a truce signed last month, exacerbating a humanitarian and refugee crisis that has sparked international concern.

The U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch said the Sudan government was responsible for ethnic cleansing in Darfur — allegations rejected by Khartoum. The rights group urged the AU to rapidly deploy ceasefire observers in the region.

The AU-led mission announced late on Friday includes representatives from the United Nations, European Union, United States and France. It is also expected to visit neighbouring Chad where more than 100,000 Sudanese refugees are encamped.

During the visit, the team will meet officials from the government and the two rebel groups who launched a revolt in February last year, demanding a fairer share of power and resources.

The rebels accuse Khartoum of neglecting the arid region and arming mounted Arab militia to drive black Africans out of their villages, looting and raping. Khartoum has branded the militia outlaws.

U.N. human rights investigators said on Friday Sudanese troops and Arab militias are carrying out massive violations in the Darfur region which “may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity”.