International donors have pledged $300-million in cash and more in kind to help the African Union expand its peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s troubled Darfur, according to preliminary figures provided on Friday.
A senior official said $300-million was pledged in cash during a donors’ conference on Thursday. The AU says it needs $466-million to more than triple its existing force of 2 270 and to equip it with six helicopter gunships, 116 armoured personnel carriers and fuel by September.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the AU is still assessing the value of contributions in kind. Nato and the European Union offered to provide aircraft, crews and training. The AU was expected to announce the total amount later on Friday.
The AU operation to stop fighting between rebels on one side and government troops and Arab militias on the other in Darfur is a critical test of international commitment and Africa’s resolve to end conflicts in the world’s poorest continent, AU Commission chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare said on Thursday.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan told the donors’ conference the world is facing a ”race against time” to prevent an even larger disaster.
At least 180 000 people have died — many from hunger and disease — and about two million others have fled their homes in Darfur to escape the conflict.
The AU will consider increasing its force to 12 300 if the situation does not improve, which would require a budget of $723-million AU officials added. — Sapa-AP