S. Africa says to send 100 police officers to Darfur

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 22 (Reuters) – South Africa said on Saturday it would send 100 police officers to Sudan’s western Darfur region at the invitation of the African Union.

Nigerian troops prepare to board a U.S. military plane in the Nigerian capital Abuja, October 28, 2004. (AP).

“Cabinet … approved a request by the African Union for South Africa to contribute a contingent of 100 police officers to Darfur in Sudan, as part of the civilian police component of the AU Peace Mission,” said chief government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe.

He said an advance team from that police contingent was meant to establish the police headquarters in Darfur during January and that the AU’s police mission would fall under the command of South African police. There was no word on when the team would depart for Sudan.

The United Nations calls Darfur one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, estimating that 70,000 people have died there since March and that 1.7 million people have been made homeless since fighting began there in 2003.

AU soldiers are there to monitor a cease-fire between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government. The force is ultimately meant to have 3,320 troops, but it has grown slowly because the pan-African body is relying on foreign aid to pay for it.