This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6943435.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Darfur force 'to be all-African' Darfur force 'to be all-African'
(37 minutes later)
Africa will provide all of the 26,000 peacekeepers to be sent to Sudan's Darfur region, the head of the African Union (AU) has said.Africa will provide all of the 26,000 peacekeepers to be sent to Sudan's Darfur region, the head of the African Union (AU) has said.
AU chairman Alpha Oumar Konare said enough African troops had been promised for no outside help to be needed but he did not give details.AU chairman Alpha Oumar Konare said enough African troops had been promised for no outside help to be needed but he did not give details.
The UN had expected to call on Asian troops. Critics say Africa lacks enough trained troops for an effective force.The UN had expected to call on Asian troops. Critics say Africa lacks enough trained troops for an effective force.
Sudan's government has long opposed the involvement of non-African soldiers.Sudan's government has long opposed the involvement of non-African soldiers.
It only agreed to a joint United Nations-AU force after months of negotiations.It only agreed to a joint United Nations-AU force after months of negotiations.
The UN Security Council resolution setting up the force said the troops would be mostly African but they would be under UN command.The UN Security Council resolution setting up the force said the troops would be mostly African but they would be under UN command.
Viable plan?Viable plan?
Speaking after talks in Khartoum with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Mr Konare said: "I can confirm today that we have received sufficient commitments from African countries that we will not have to resort to non-African forces."Speaking after talks in Khartoum with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Mr Konare said: "I can confirm today that we have received sufficient commitments from African countries that we will not have to resort to non-African forces."
He added that the "ball is now in the court of the UN" to provide funding for the force.He added that the "ball is now in the court of the UN" to provide funding for the force.
DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS 7,000 - existing AU force1,000 - pledged by Senegal800 - pledged by MalawiNigeria, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Egypt - reportedly made pledgesIndonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh - pledged troops26,000 - total planned Mr Bashir, who has long argued that a UN-backed force would be a violation of Sudan's sovereignty and could worsen the situation there, backed Mr Konare's plan. PROMISED PEACEKEEPERS 7,000 - existing AU force1,000 - pledged by Senegal800 - pledged by Malawi Other pledges: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia and EgyptIndonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh26,000 - total planned Mr Bashir, who has long argued that a UN-backed force would be a violation of Sudan's sovereignty and could worsen the situation there, backed Mr Konare's plan.
"[We] support the AU force, which consolidates the efforts of the Sudanese government to ensure security, peace and stability in Darfur," he said after their meeting."[We] support the AU force, which consolidates the efforts of the Sudanese government to ensure security, peace and stability in Darfur," he said after their meeting.
Mr Konare did not give a breakdown of the countries offering to supply more personnel, leading correspondents to question the viability of an all-African force.Mr Konare did not give a breakdown of the countries offering to supply more personnel, leading correspondents to question the viability of an all-African force.
BBC Africa analyst David Bamford said it was unclear where so many African troops would come from.BBC Africa analyst David Bamford said it was unclear where so many African troops would come from.
Senegal and Malawi have promised to send peacekeepers to Darfur, while the AU has said that Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria have also promised to contribute.
Hafiz Mohamed from lobby group Justice Africa said Sudan would be able to manipulate AU troops - as he said they had been doing with the 7,000 AU troops already in Darfur.Hafiz Mohamed from lobby group Justice Africa said Sudan would be able to manipulate AU troops - as he said they had been doing with the 7,000 AU troops already in Darfur.
"This will affect the whole credibility of the new resolution," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme."This will affect the whole credibility of the new resolution," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Deadline loomingDeadline looming
Mr Konare's announcement came just days after the UN published a list of Asian countries it said had already committed troops and police officers to a Darfur force.Mr Konare's announcement came just days after the UN published a list of Asian countries it said had already committed troops and police officers to a Darfur force.
Some two million people have fled their homes to displacement campsUN officials said the joint AU-UN force would be "predominantly African", but confirmed that countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh had pledged personnel.Some two million people have fled their homes to displacement campsUN officials said the joint AU-UN force would be "predominantly African", but confirmed that countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh had pledged personnel.
According to a UN resolution, the composition of the force must be decided by 30 August.According to a UN resolution, the composition of the force must be decided by 30 August.
At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two million have been left homeless in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003.At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two million have been left homeless in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003.
Sudan's Arab dominated government, and the pro-government Janjaweed militias, are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population - although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide.Sudan's Arab dominated government, and the pro-government Janjaweed militias, are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population - although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide.
Sudan has always denied backing the Janjaweed militias and argued that the problems in Darfur were being exaggerated for political reasons.Sudan has always denied backing the Janjaweed militias and argued that the problems in Darfur were being exaggerated for political reasons.