Sudan protests against possible German troops in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Nov 24 (AFP) — The Sudanese foreign ministry summoned Germany’s ambassador to Khartoum to protest against any possible German troop deployment to the war-torn region of Darfur, state television reported Wednesday.

Junior Foreign Minister Naguib al-Kheir Abdul Wahab expressed the government’s displeasure over the idea during the meeting with the German diplomat, it added.

“It is the responsibility of the Sudanese government to keep peace and protect its people,” Abul Wahab was quoted as telling the German.

“This is a question of sovereignty,” said the Sudanese minister, conveying his government’s dismay over not being consulted beforehand on the apparent offer.

Government sources in Berlin have said only that Germany would consider any request from the African Union (AU) to send transport planes to Darfur, saying on November 9 that no request had then been made.

At the time, Germany’s Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper reported that Berlin was ready to send two transport planes and “several dozen” soldiers to Darfur.

The AU decided last month to widen its mission in Darfur by sending 3,300 observers. Around 600 troops from Rwanda and Nigeria who are already in the region were transported there with help from France and the United States.

Germany has set aside 2.25 million euros (2.9 million dollars) for aid for Darfur out of the European Union total of 92 million euros.

German Defence Minister Peter Struck first indicated in September that Berlin might contribute soldiers to a UN mission in Sudan’s Darfur region, referring to the crisis there as “genocide.”