United Nations Forces Will Soon Activate in Darfur

The African Union, whose troops ensure peacekeeping missions of the Darfur region, and the United Nations have finally reached an agreement on Monday.

Following a ministerial meeting of the African Union's Peace and Security Council, Olu Adenji, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, stated that the 7,000 soldier troops deployed by the African Union in Darfur might as well be able to leave before the established September 30th date if the United Nations forces were prepared to take over control sooner.

The meeting concluded that the initial agreement signed by government officials and main rebel groups on May 5th, would be extended till May 31st, so that all remaining rebel factions are provided with enough time to complete signing. Some of those rebel groups, which have resisted international pressure to sign the agreement, are Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement.

Abdel Wahid Nur, leader of the first faction, and Khalil Ibrahim of the second, are demanding further political clauses the government should stipulate and commit to, that include the idea of the powers-sharing, security arrangements and adequate compensations for the victims of the long standing conflict in the region.

Adenji added that if the agreement is not signed by the extended deadline, then the African Union will take the necessary measures, which include a series of consultations with the United Nations Security Council that may result in several sanctions of some sort being imposed.