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Darfur Needs Peace Enforcers NOT Peace Keepers!
Muti This
They came in 30 trucks, some 2000 of them - armed Sudanese rebels - killing soldiers on peacekeeping mission in Darfur. News report:
Nine Nigerians died when Sudanese rebel forces briefly overran an African Union base in Darfur late Saturday, army spokesman Col. Solomon Giwa Amu said. One Malian, one Senegalese and one Botswanian in the AU force also were killed, bringing the death toll to at least 12.
There are some 800 Nigerian soldiers among the 7000 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur, an area nearly the size of France. While the attack further buttresses the savagery of the events in the region, it also highlights the impotence of the AU force, whose members are not only inadequate but grossly ill-equipped for their assigned task.
It is a shame that the AU members would rather attend to frivolities such as grand annual summits than step-up to their responsibilities and enforce and keep regional peace. What Darfur needs are not some ragtag ill-equipped African soldiers keeping peace that does not exist, but several battalions of well armed combat-ready force with full logistic support of the United Nations. There is no peace to keep in Darfur, it can only be enforced!
Besides, why must Nigeria carry the burden of peacekeeping missions in Africa? Where are the South African and Egyptian forces?
Image, click to enlarge: Stuart Price/African Union Mission in Sudan, via Associated Press. African Union soldiers carried a wounded comrade on Sunday in Haskanita, Sudan, after rebels had killed 10 of the peacekeepers.
wole | Oct 4, 2007 | Reply
men, i was shocked at the news myself. the situation in Darfur has defied all known solution, even the UN peacekeepers seem at a loss as to what to do. SA is more concerned with making money in the continent, while egypt may have its diplomatic interests to protect, Nigeria through ex-president Obasanjo’s foreign policy has done a commendable job of peacekeeping in Africa but their peace keeping ability often gets undermined by reports of shady deals and immoral conduct of the peacekeeping force, this coupled with an ill equppied and ill motivated Nigerian forces may just be the reason for the attack. i also beleive that country’s with experience like angola, liberia, congo, libya, sierra leone should pay more than lip attention to this issue as it has already gotten out of hand.
pammy | Oct 4, 2007 | Reply
thank you caretaker - where are the others?
Nigeria must begin to start minding its business. If the other countries that you mentioned that have the resources to actually do something don’t want to get involved - why should we keep on loosing our people. Senegal is even thinking of pulling out its people.
Our big brother we need to take care of other people’s needs to stop - kia kia……!!! We have lost enough people in other people’s wars.
yes, you guys can now officially beat me up!!
ME | Oct 4, 2007 | Reply
Not Nigerian Peace Enforcers - Nigeria should focus on getting itself on par with other developed economies.
We need to stop this whole big brother thing to Africa because at the end of the day - it is not appreciated!!!! The same people you helped, laid your life and invested your pittance pay for are the one’s that turn and say crap!!
That said….the peace enforcers should come from other “developed” countries in Africa minus Nigeria.
I can list some if anyone needs help!!!
D-Tee | Oct 4, 2007 | Reply
Just the way they carry their wounded comrade speaks volumes to their level of readiness…can’t AU afford stretchers, ambulances? The Janjaweed and the rebels will have these poor soldiers for supper!
Omotaylor | Oct 4, 2007 | Reply
I am of two minds here. One part of my mind tries to understand Nigeria’s motivation for wanting to “keep” peace in Darfur as she assisted in Liberia and other countries, but the other part cant understand how Nigeria hopes to sort other people’s problems when she is yet to solve hers. More so when she is incurring heavy losses. This big brother syndrome should be well thought over especially in the future. The troop should be recalled back home while UN/AU does something far reaching, for Darfur should not be left to perish