Sudan agrees to the Deployment of an International Force in Darfur
Sudan?s government in Khartoum agreed Friday to the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force to the distraught region of Darfur, as well as, a reinforcement of the African observer force already deployed in the area. Yet, the Sudanese government didn`t state how many peacekeepers it will actually allow into the country, but did say that the international force will supply technical support and military consultation to the African observers. The head of the foreign ministry?s peace department, Sadek al-Mulki, said the UN peacekeeping force will work under the command of the African observers.
Outgoing UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, said the reports from Khartoum "encourage me to think we may tomorrow receive a green light from President al-Beshir for a full ceasefire... and deployment of the proposed hybrid African Union-United Nations force to protect the population." The agreement consolidated stipulates that in the initial stage the African force will be reinforced with 105 military officers, 33 policemen and 48 observers. Annan said that by the end of the process Darfur will have at least 17,300 soldiers, 3,300 policemen and altogether another 16 peacekeeping unites. Al-Mulki said the Sudanese government agrred to the initial deployment but that any further redeployment of troops will involve further negotiations. He added that Sudan demands that all UN soldiers deployed in the region be African
The violence in the Darfur region began in February 2003, when African tribe rebels began actions against the Sudanese military. In response the government set up militias, who reportedly went on murder, rape and arson frenzies in the region. The Sudanese government denies the accusations made by the UN and the African Union saying there haven`t any connection to the militias. Since the war in Darfur started over 200 thousand people have lost their lives and at least 2.5 million individuals have become refugees.
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