Germany to provide transport flights for Sudan mission
BERLIN, Dec 3, 2004 (Germany Info) — German Armed Forces will support the expansion of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) with transport flights, the German parliament decided today, December 3, by an overwhelming majority. The peace and security council of the African Union had asked the international community for support in the peace efforts in Sudan.
This offer of logistical support adds to Germany’s commitment to alleviate human suffering and contribute to a resolution of the Darfur crisis. In addition to the European Union’s 92 million euros in support of AMIS, Germany has already contributed 2 million euros to AMIS and supports the mission politically, materially, and with staff in the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. Moreover, Germany is already providing one of the largest amounts of humanitarian aid?more than 32.5 million euros?for the refugee emergency in the Darfur region.
In the area of diplomacy, Germany co-financed the Abuja peace negotiations in October/November and is supporting the 180-day Action Plan Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Darfur of the High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has repeatedly urged Sudanese government leaders to implement peace agreements, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kerstin Müller has traveled to the region twice in 2004 to gather information first-hand on the dire humanitarian situation.
The dramatic situation in Darfur now requires the expansion of the African Union mission. Germany, with up to 200 soldiers, is ready to offer air-transport to the African Union for the transport of AU contingents to Darfur. Germany’s offer falls within the framework of the European Union’s support of AMIS. European states are supporting the transfer of troops from the contributing countries of Nigeria, Rwanda, Gambia and Tanzania. The United States, Great Britain and the Netherlands are currently providing transport support.
A six-month deployment of German troops is planned so far, with deployment to begin now that the Bundestag has approved the measure.