AFRICAN UNION EXTENDS MANDATE OF PEACEKEEPERS

On March 10, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council extended its mission in Darfur until September 30th of this year. One of the key proposals on the agenda was to agree for a United Nations peacekeeping mission to replace the AU force currently deployed in Darfur.

Over the past few weeks, African heads of state had come under intense pressure from the Sudanese government to refuse such a proposal and in the end, the decision was to support a UN takeover “in principle.” Meanwhile, the pan-African group will intensify its work to push a peace process for Darfur by April 30 and work towards a diplomatic solution for the Chad-Sudan crisis. 

Secretary General Kofi Annan has welcomed the decision but also urged the international community to support the AU mission with adequate resources until the United Nations can take over. "I don't think we can afford a gap, nor can we afford any further deterioration of the security situation, and so it is urgent that we give them the support they need," he said.  

The United Nations is going ahead with a contingency planning for the transition but it will take about 6-9 months before it is ready to deploy troops on the ground. Moreover, the UN will be working closely with the AU mediator for peace talks in Darfur.

+ DARFUR RESOURCE CENTER

Updated March 13, 2006