The top United States diplomat on Africa said on Monday that important progress has been made recently in the deployment of UN peacekeepers to Sudan’s war-torn western region of Darfur.
”Even since September, we’ve had a new 700 or so both military and police units on the ground in Darfur, so that’s important progress,” Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer told reporters in Khartoum.
”But we’re looking to get at least 3 000 to 4 000 in Darfur,” she added without specifying a timeframe.
The West has accused Sudan of obstructing deployment of UN-led peacekeepers, but Khartoum is now seeking to avert possible international legal proceedings against President Omar al-Bashir over Darfur.
Part of Sudan’s strategy has been to convince the international community it is serious about peace efforts in the western region, where the government has been accused of brutally repressing a nearly six-year insurgency.
The African Union-United Nations mission is supposed to grow into the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world at an estimated strength of 26 000.
Since its launch on December 31, only 9 078 soldiers and 2 282 police have deployed. The mission still needs 24 helicopters to patrol the vast region.
Additional Ethiopian, Nepalese and Thai forces are to arrive in coming months and the United Nations hopes to deploy 60% to 65% by end-2008.
”We certainly have offered the UN to help do airlifts that they need to bring in both troops and to move equipment. The government of Sudan has been providing the visas necessary for the forces to deploy,” said Frazer.
Sudan has agreed to US airlifts of troops into Darfur and it flew Rwandan troops and armoured personnel carriers into the region in October 2007.
”We need to see progress on the ground specifically to resolve the crisis, which is why we put an emphasis on a credible peace process,” Frazer said when asked if Sudan had done enough for Washington to back a suspension of court proceedings.
Judges at the International Criminal Court are reviewing a request from the chief prosecutor for an arrest warrant against al-Bashir on 10 counts of alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The United States does not recognise the court, based in The Hague. — Sapa-AFP