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Darfur force 'to be all-African' | Darfur force 'to be all-African' |
(about 10 hours later) | |
African Union (AU) chairman Alpha Oumar Konare says enough African troops have been promised to a Sudan peacekeeping force for no outside help to be needed. | African Union (AU) chairman Alpha Oumar Konare says enough African troops have been promised to a Sudan peacekeeping force for no outside help to be needed. |
He said African countries could provide the 26,000 peacekeepers needed for the combined AU-United Nations force. The AU already has 7,000 troops in Darfur. | |
The UN had expected to call on Asian troops. Critics say Africa lacks enough trained troops for an effective force. | The UN had expected to call on Asian troops. Critics say Africa lacks enough trained troops for an effective force. |
Sudan's government has long opposed the involvement of non-African soldiers. | Sudan's government has long opposed the involvement of non-African soldiers. |
Viable plan? | Viable plan? |
Speaking after talks in Khartoum with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Mr Konare said: "I can confirm today that we have received sufficient commitments from African countries that we will not have to resort to non-African forces." | Speaking after talks in Khartoum with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Mr Konare said: "I can confirm today that we have received sufficient commitments from African countries that we will not have to resort to non-African forces." |
He added that the "ball is now in the court of the UN" to provide funding for the force. | He added that the "ball is now in the court of the UN" to provide funding for the force. |
Mr Bashir, who has long argued that a UN-backed force would be a violation of Sudan's sovereignty and could worsen the situation there, backed Mr Konare's plan. | Mr Bashir, who has long argued that a UN-backed force would be a violation of Sudan's sovereignty and could worsen the situation there, backed Mr Konare's plan. |
"(We) support the AU force, which consolidates the efforts of the Sudanese government to ensure security, peace and stability in Darfur," he said after their meeting. | "(We) support the AU force, which consolidates the efforts of the Sudanese government to ensure security, peace and stability in Darfur," he said after their meeting. |
Mr Konare did not give a breakdown of the countries offering to supply more personnel, leading correspondents to question the viability of an all-African force. | Mr Konare did not give a breakdown of the countries offering to supply more personnel, leading correspondents to question the viability of an all-African force. |
The BBC's Africa editor, David Bamford, said it was unclear where so many African troops would come from. | The BBC's Africa editor, David Bamford, said it was unclear where so many African troops would come from. |
Our correspondent questioned whether African nations would have the political commitment to stand alone against the forces seeking to continue to disrupt lives in Darfur. | Our correspondent questioned whether African nations would have the political commitment to stand alone against the forces seeking to continue to disrupt lives in Darfur. |
Deadline looming | Deadline looming |
Mr Konare's announcement came just days after the UN published a list of Asian countries it said had already committed troops and police officers to a Darfur force. | Mr Konare's announcement came just days after the UN published a list of Asian countries it said had already committed troops and police officers to a Darfur force. |
Some two million people have fled their homes to displacement campsUN officials said the joint AU-UN force would be "predominantly African", but confirmed that countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh had pledged personnel. | Some two million people have fled their homes to displacement campsUN officials said the joint AU-UN force would be "predominantly African", but confirmed that countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh had pledged personnel. |
According to a UN resolution, the composition of the force must be decided by 30 August. | According to a UN resolution, the composition of the force must be decided by 30 August. |
At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two million have been left homeless in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003. | At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two million have been left homeless in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003. |
Sudan's Arab government, and the pro-government Janjaweed militias, are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population - although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide. | Sudan's Arab government, and the pro-government Janjaweed militias, are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population - although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide. |