CAIRO — The African Union plans to deploy an additional 5,000 troops
to Sudan to stabilize the war-torn province of Darfour.
The United States and other NATO allies intend to help airlift the AU
troops to Darfour over the next few months. U.S. officials said the air
transports would be ready by July 2005.
"I hope some can start to come in this month and [the rest] be brought
in over the summer," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said.
"But ultimately it's an African Union decision."
Zoellick said Nigeria and Rwanda were ready to send troops. Senegal and
South Africa have also pledged to send soldiers for the expanded mission, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Where the AU force is in place they are able to stop violence between
militia and rebels," Zoellick said on June 3 during an African tour. "The
problem is not enough peacekeepers on the ground."
In April 2005, the AU, which has sought $460 million for the operation,
decided to increase the Darfour force from the current 2,400 to 7,700.
Officials said 5,500 troops and 1,600 civilian police as well as military
observers have been allocated for the peace-keeping mission.
Officials said the AU wants to establish 30 additional posts in and
around refugee camps by July. The AU has a permanent presence in one
location -- the Kalma camp in South Darfour.
Sudan has opposed the expansion of the AU mandate in Darfour. During his
visit to Sudan, Zoellick called on Khartoum to prosecute soldiers and
militia fighters accused of attacking civilians in Darfour.
"We are certainly sending a very strong message to the government of
Sudan that we want them to stop the militias," Zoellick said. "And we also
want them to move to disarm the militias."
