Sudan agrees to more African observers for Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sept 27 (AFP) — Sudan has told the African Union (AU) and United Nations it would welcome a proposed increase in the African military force protecting AU observers monitoring a ceasefire agreement in Darfur, west Sudan, a newspaper reported Monday.

Agriculture Minister Majzoub al-Khalia Ahmed was quoted by Al-Rai Al-Aam daily as saying the government had sent official messages to the two organisations giving its consent to more African troops.

Details would be discussed with the African Union, said Ahmed, who is Sudan’s chief delegate to stalled negotiations with Darfur rebels.

The AU observers are monitoring an April ceasefire accord which both Khartoum and the Darfur rebels groups accuse each other of violating.

An estimated 50,000 people have died and 1.4 million been displaced in Sudan’s western Darfur region, where UN officials say pro-government Janjaweed militias have carried out a scorched-earth campaign of ethnic cleansing against non-Arab minorities.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted earlier this month called for an investigation into charges of genocide in Darfur, and warned Sudan of possible sanctions against its oil industry unless it protects the region’s population.