Status on the Peacekeeping Forces that the African Union (AU) deploys in Sudan

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR ORAL REPLY

QUESTION NO: 176

MR W J SEREMANE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

In light of the African Union's unwillingness to let the United Nations play a major role in the Darfur region, (a) what number of peacekeeping forces is being sent to Sudan by the African Union and (b) who will be responsible for paying for these troops on an ongoing basis? N1341E

REPLY:

(a) The AU first deployed 60 military observers and 310 protection troops in order to monitor the compliance of the parties to the Humanitarian Cease-fire Agreement of 8 April 2004. In the light of the deteriorating security situation and the persistent attacks against civilians, the AU decided to enhance the mission till it reached 6,171 military personnel and 1,560 civilian police. These numbers include 398 SANDF personnel and 126 members of the SAPS.

(b) It is the primary responsibility of the AU to fund AMIS in partnership with international donors. Currently, two thirds of AMIS funding comes from EU African Peace Facility budget. Therefore both AMIS extension and expansion would be possible only with greater international budget support. On 22 July 2006, the Pledging Conference in Brussels committed $220 million dollars to the AU force in Darfur, enough to Sustain current AU operations through the end of September 2006.