A United Nations-African Union (AU) hybrid force is to take over the peacekeeping mission in the conflict-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur from the AU Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) on Monday, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) announced on Saturday.
The hybrid peacekeeping operation, which is well known as theUN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), will be the largest peacekeeping operation for both of the organizations around the world, UNMIS said in statement.
Headed by UN-AU Joint Special Representative for Darfur Rodolphe Adada, UNAMID is mandated to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian assistance and help provide a secure environment in which peace can take root.
The transfer of the peacekeeping mission will comprise a signing ceremony between both parties in the presence of a representative of the Sudanese government.
In addition, African Union troops will exchange their green headgear for the United Nations blue beret.
On July 31, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1769, authorizing the deployment the hybrid force including some 20,000 troops and more than 6,000 police and civilian staff to replace the under-funded AMIS.
Over 9,000 uniformed personnel are currently on the ground, including 7,000 troops and 1,200 police serving with AMIS, which was established in 2004 to help bring peace to Darfur, as well as United Nations soldiers and police officers serving as part of the United Nations "heavy" and "light support packages" deployed to support AMIS over the last year.
On Nov. 24, a Chinese engineering force comprising 140 soldiers arrived in Darfur to take part in the hybrid peacekeeping force. They are currently stationed in Niyala, the capital of the South Darfur State.
More than 50 African Union troops have lost their lives in Darfur since 2004, with 12 killed as the result of an attack by unknown gunmen at Haskanita, South Darfur, in September 2007.
Source: Xinhua
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