Janjaweed militias still a menace in Darfur

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Feb 3, 2005 (PANA) — Though the security situation was reportedly calm in many locations in the restive Darfur region of western Sudan, many violations of the ceasefire last month rocked the southern part of the region, according to a situation report released here Thursday.

Soldiers of the Janjaweed militia, walk around the weekly animal market in Mistiria in North Darfur, Sudan, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004. AP. (AP).

In its Weekly Briefing, covering 17-31 January 2005, the African Union (AU) Darfur Integrated Task Force (DITF) says Arab militants were constantly threatening villagers in Umkher area.

Also, in a separate incident, a patrol team of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) came under fire from about 600 Janjaweed armed militias. The team was travelling from Jeje to Birtabla.

There was no casualty in that incident but a tanker of the AMIS protection force leaked fuel after it was punched with bullets.

Meanwhile, the AU protection force in Darfur has increased to 1,410 troops after Nigeria completed the deployment of three companies at Al Dein and Nyala.

Senegalese troops also have finally been airlifted to the field, thanks to the cooperation of the Netherlands and the European Union.

On 29 January, 35 military police from Kenya arrived at El Fasher, the logistic base and sector headquarters of the Ceasefire Commission in Darfur.

However, DITF reports that accommodation problems would delay the deployment of more civilian police to the region.

Six countries are ready to send their police component to Darfur, but the deployment of the first batch of 100 policemen would be put off for at least two weeks because of this problem.

Countries ready to send in their police component are South Africa (100), Nigeria (50), Zambia (15), Botswana (2) and Ghana (150).

On the budget for AMIS, the report says total pledges amount to $195,513,784. The contributions would be channelled through the AU Peace Fund.