SUDAN: African forces deployed to prevent further fighting in Sudan's Darfur region are underfunded, the head of African Union (AU) peacekeeping said yesterday.
The AU wants its 3,000-strong mission monitoring the three-year-old conflict to expand to more than 7,000 with heavier weapons by October and take a more proactive role to protect civilians.
"In terms of logistical support the commitments are very encouraging, but we have not had enough commitments in terms of financial support in cash," the AU peace and security commissioner, Said Djinnit, reported on the sidelines of a summit of African leaders in Libya.
More than two million people have fled their homes in Darfur, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, the United Nations has said.
Meanwhile, AU ministers also pressed the United Nations to lift an arms embargo on Somalia to allow neighbouring countries to deploy peacekeepers to protect an interim government there.
Ministers at the summit of the the 53-member AU echoed calls made last month by east African ministers, but added that urgent action was required to secure the new Somali government and establish democracy.
"The decision is that the ministers want the arms embargo removed immediately. The Somali government itself feels let down by Africa ..." said the AU official. - (Reuters)