SUDAN: The United Nations Security Council should impose an African Union force of at least 3,000 troops on Sudan with a mandate to protect civilians in the western region of Darfur, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said yesterday.
The UN Security Council, which has already given Sudan until the end of August to prove its commitment to solving the conflict in Darfur, should also impose sanctions on named government officials, the analysis group said in a report.
The African Union has discussed sending a force of 3,000 to Darfur, but Sudan rejected the idea yesterday.
The ICG report said Sudan's government had acted in bad faith throughout the crisis in Darfur and was "adept at saying and doing just enough to avoid a robust international response".
It criticised the UN Security Council's first resolution, passed on July 30th, for failing to take action against Khartoum and giving Sudanese officials the impression they can continue to fend off international pressure.
More than one million Darfuris have fled their homes in the past 18 months for fear of attack by Arab militiamen known as Janjaweed, mobilised by the government as auxiliaries in a campaign to crush two rebel groups.
To make up for lost time, at the end of the month the UN Security Council should authorise the African Union to deploy a force of at least 3,000 troops to protect civilians, using force if necessary. The council should indicate it will urgently consider further action if Khartoum does not cooperate, the report said.
The council should impose sanctions on the Sudanese officials most responsible for atrocities in Darfur and on the main businesses of the ruling National Congress party. It should impose a mandatory, comprehensive and monitored arms embargo on the Khartoum government, it added. - (Reuters)