NAME: UNAMID is the mission name for the joint African Union / United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur.
SIZE: If fully deployed, UNAMID will be one of the biggest missions in peacekeeping history, with 26,000 troops and police personnel.
MANDATE: to protect civilians and humanitarian operations; to help oversee the early stages of the peace agreement (when in place).
DEPLOYMENT DEADLINE: UNAMID was slated to be fully deployed and operational by 31 December 2007, but in reality less than half of troops were in Sudan by June 2008; delays could push full deployment back up to one year or more.
TROOPS: 80-85% of UNAMID troops will come from African donor states to maintain the “African character” of the mission, as specified in UN Resolution 1769; remaining troops will come from countries with required peacekeeping specializations.
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What is UNAMID?
UNAMID is a joint peacekeeping mission of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) being deployed to the Darfur region of Sudan to protect vulnerable civilian populations and humanitarian operations, and to assist with the transition to peace. Nearly 5 years of violence has displaced 3 million people, and the region remains too dangerous for most to return home. UNAMID was authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 1769 on 31 July 2007, and will be reinforcing the 7,000 AU peacekeepers there since 2005 who do not have the numbers or resources to be effective.
Why has UNAMID’s deployment been delayed?
UNAMID was supposed to be fully operational and 26,000 strong by 31 December 2007, but tragically and in reality, less than 1/3 of peacekeepers were on the ground by then. The Sudanese Government has blocked the UNAMID mission at every turn, and the international community has failed to adequately intervene. Of course, Khartoum is responsible for much of the violence in Darfur, and does not want UN peacekeepers in the region, so it is up to international actors to ensure that UNAMID succeeds. Peacekeepers also need helicopters from donor states, which have not yet been pledged.
Why UN peacekeepers?
Since 2005, African Union (AU) peacekeepers have been in Darfur. Unfortunately, without adequate numbers and international donor support, they have not been effective. As well, Khartoum has used its considerable influence in the AU to limit the patrolling, mobility and communications capacities of the AU mission. Since Sudan is largely responsible for the violence in Darfur, it has not welcomed peacekeepers with open arms and has interfered with their independence at every turn. Even the AU has been calling for United Nations reinforcements for two years. United Nations peacekeepers will be able to: 1) secure sufficient donor support for the mission, 2) attract a greater number of troops, and 3) be sufficiently removed from Khartoum’s influence to operate independently and effectively protect civilians.
How has Khartoum obstructed UNAMID’s deployment?
Before UNAMID deploys to Darfur, the terms of the mission must be negotiated with Khartoum because peacekeepers will be operating on Sudanese soil. Though Khartoum agreed to host the UN mission, it did so reluctantly, and has subsequently tried to undermine UNAMID’s independence. Sudan has tried to retain control over transportation, communication and patrolling rights, to keep peacekeepers from effectively doing their jobs. It used similar strategies to undermine the AU mission, but Khartoum does not have the direct influence in the UN that it does in the AU, and the UN should be able to negotiate more operational independence.
Why is deployment so urgent?
The conflict in Darfur is approaching the five year mark, and between serious splintering of rebel groups and ongoing attacks by the Janjaweed with Government soldiers, violence continues to ravage the region. Fighting has left what the UN considers “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today” in its wake. Darfuri need peacekeepers now for protection - they cannot wait. |
