Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Khartoum (Agenzia Fides)- “At first I had my doubts about UN troops in Darfur because I knew the government and part of the population were contrary. However the deteriorating humanitarian situation convinced me that a stronger intervention was necessary” said Bishop Antonio Menegazzo, Administrator Apostolic of the Sudanese diocese of El Obeid, in Sudan, told Fides following a UN resolution to deploy more peacekeepers in Darfur.
Khartoum rejected resolution 1706 adopted yesterday by the UN Security Council to send more UN peacekeepers to the western Sudan region of Darfur lacerated by war and famine. “We have options and plans to face the international intervention”, said Vice-President Ali Osman Taha. “However, in actual fact articles in several Sudanese newspapers were open to deployment of UN troops” says Bishop Menegazzo. “The Sudanese government has always refused a UN intervention and so it cannot accept it without preparing public opinion. I think a compromise must be reached with Khartoum which in the end will accept UN peacekeepers”.
Resolution 1706 increases UN troops in Sudan (UNMISS) from 12,273 to 17, 300 military and 3,300 police to support the African Union mission in Darfur.
Since 2005 the 7,000 AU troops in Darfur, whose funds run out at the end of September, have failed to control the region. Three years of civil war killed 300,000 and left almost 2.5 million displaced persons. Mainly to blame the notorious Arab Janjaweed militia responsible for most of the massacres of civilians. The new UN force will monitor respect for a fragile cease fire agreement signed last May by the Sudanese government and the two local rebel groups and help local authorities bring the situation under control. To overcome Sudan’s opposition the UN mandate affirmed respect for “the sovereignty, unity, independence and integrity of Sudan which is not endangered by the passing of operations to the United Nations Organisation”.
Darfur was an independent Sultanate until 1917 before it was incorporated into Sudan. The rebellion in the last three years was led mainly by the Sudan Liberation Army, the Justice and Equality Movement and the smaller National Movement for Reform and Development. The rebels demand more autonomy and a fair share of resources, especially oil profits. Besides oil the area is rich in uranium and copper. Cattle raising (one million heads of cattle) is a principal resource of this region. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2006 righe 40 parole 484)
