afrol News, 31 December - A joint AU-UN peacekeeping mission was at officially inaugurated in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The deployment of the mission tasked with enforcing peace in the troubled region of Darfur was delayed by a dispute with the Sudanese government over its composition.

The 26,000 member mission [UNAMID] that replaces the AU observer mission is the largest peacekeeping force in the world. It entails 20,000 soldiers and 6,000 police and administrative staff.

The mission also includes close to 2,000 soldiers and police assigned by the AU and the UN in Sudan since 2004.

The mainly African troops mission will be headquartered in El-Fasher. However, in the absence of planes and helicopters, which are yet to be acquired, the mission's functions will be limited.

The UNAMID Commander, Rodolphe Adada, said people must not expect an overnight change of situation in Darfur.

“Anyway, we think that our presence can contribute to the improvement of security in Darfur and to the creation of a favourable climate for a peaceful solution of the conflict.”

But the mission that currently has 9,000 soldiers at hand, is already faced with how to contain a new offensive by Chadian and Darfur rebels that had been attacking a number of towns and villages in Western Darfur.

The Darfur crisis started in 2003 and has since then claimed the lives of more than 200,000 as well as displaced 2.5 million people. Darfuris continue to grapple with worsening humanitarian situation.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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