Situation “unstable” in Sudan, “critical” in Darfur : Danish intelligence

COPENHAGEN, Apr 15, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Danish Defence Intelligence Service paints a gloomy picture of the political situation in Sudan, to which Denmark is on the verge of sending a peacekeeping force.

Danish peacekeeping forces are on their way to a Sudan dominated by instability.

In a “situation and threat assessment for Sudan”, the Defence Intelligence Service writes that the situation in “large parts of Sudan is unstable despite the peace agreement”, the Danish newspaper Politiken reported two days ago.

“The unstable situation in southern Sudan is due to the many groups not included in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The situation in the western part of the Darfur region is most critical,” the report states.

In its threat assessment, the Defence Intelligence Service writes that the threat to the UN force on the ground is estimated to be “low”.

But the threat from the other rebel groups/militias is regarded as “medium” and in southern Sudan the threat is even “high” in certain areas. For air traffic the threat is estimated to be “medium” at low altitudes and “low” at high altitudes.

Denmark will send 45 soldiers to Sudan to take part in the United Nation’s peace-keeping force there after the peace agreement Khartoum signed with the former rebels in south Sudan on January 9, 2005.