Australia to deploy military personnel in Sudan

CANBERRA, Apr 20, 2005 (Xinhua) — The Australian government announced on Wednesday that it has approved the deployment of Australian military personnel to a new United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sudan.

An unidentified Sudanese refugee nun reacts Jan. 28, 2005, at the Sakakini Sacred Heart Community Church in Cairo, Egypt, during a celebration of the Jan. 9 southern Sudan peace treaty signing. (AP) .

Fifteen Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel will be deployed for an initial period of 12 months as part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said the deployment has been made at the request of the United Nations.

“ADF personnel will make a positive contribution to improve stability and peace in Sudan, and more widely in Africa, through their participation in the UNMIS Peacekeeping Force,” Hill said in a statement.

“The contribution will include air movements, logistic support and military observers and will deploy when called forward by the United Nations,” he said.

The UN Security Council authorized the establishment of UNMIS on March 24, 2005, after the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement agreed to end a civil war that has lasted for more than 20 years.