afrol News, 20 November - After a consultation with the United Nations Secretary General, the African Union Commission Chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konaré, has endorsed the appointment of an Assistant Police Commissioner of South Africa as the head of the police component of the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) to be deployed in Sudan's troubled Darfur region early next year.

Michael J. Fryer is tasked with implementing all police duties of the mission's mandate, which includes containing violence and humanitarian suffering of a region that had been mired into violent conflict since 2003.

Fryer has been heading the Specialised Operation Division of South African police since September 2004. He was had previously commanded the South African Special Task Force.

UNAMID is expected to comprise of over 26,000 peacekeepers [20,000 military personnel and over 6,000 police officers]. It will one of the larges UN peacekeeping missions in the world.

The conflict which broke between the rebels, the government forces and allied militias claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people as well as displaced 2.2 million others.

Sudan had earlier rejected the deployment of western forces in its territory, fearing a re-colonisation. The country and its rebels have deadlocked over peace talks.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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