SENATE AGREES TO ADD $20 MILLION FOR AU PEACEKEEPING IN DARFUR

On September, 7, 2006, the Senate unanimously agreed to an amendment sponsored by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) that adds $20 million to support and strengthen the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). The additional spending was tacked onto the fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations Act and will be made available for additional training and equipment of the beleaguered AU Mission, the only force currently on the ground in Darfur. The money will also help facilitate the airlifting of AMIS forces and assist and expand their logistics capability.

The increase in funding was made possible by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), who sponsored the amendment. Senators Obama (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Hillary Clinton (D-NY), co-sponsors of this legislation, were also instrumental in its passage.

Citizens for Global Solutions commends Senator Reid and the three other co-sponsors of this measure for spearheading this initiative. There are currently around 7,000 African Union troops trying to stop the genocide in Sudan, in which an estimated 300,000 people have killed. The international community must provide more resources for AMIS to bolster their efforts to protect Darfur's civilian population while they await the deployment of a larger UN force.

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