Japan decides against sending troops to Sudan for U.N. mission

TOKYO, Apr 06, 2005 (Kyodo) — Japan has decided not to send Self-Defense Forces troops to Sudan for planned U.N. peacekeeping operations, but will consider dispatching civilian officials such as those from the Foreign Ministry to help with the mission, government sources said Wednesday.

The decision was made because the security situation in the African nation remains uncertain and because it is difficult for the SDF to dispatch more troops in addition to those who have already been deployed in Iraq to assist in reconstruction work there, the sources said.

Japan had been considering how it can contribute to the peacekeeping operations following the adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution in March to send 10,000 peacekeepers to southern Sudan to monitor a cease-fire between the government and southern rebels.

Japan sent an investigative team to Sudan in early March to check the security situation and living conditions in the country.