Sudan Rejects UN Peacekeeping Force; AU Confirms Withdrawal

The Sudanese government has declared Monday that it will allow African Union peacekeepers to remain in war-ravaged Darfur, on the condition that the troops are not part of the proposed United Nations force.

The announcement comes as a clear act of defiance against the United Nations’ efforts to broker peace in the region.

On Sunday, fears arose that western Sudan could descend into full-scale warfare after the Council of Ministers requested that the African Union withdraw its 7,000 soldier force from Darfur when its mandate expires on 30 September. Sudanese President Omar Bashir told that his government would take over the security issues across the nation.

However, a change of heart was seen on Monday when the presidential advisor, Mustafa Osman Ismail reported that the AU would have to leave the country only if it could not maintain its existing force.