UN-AU Peacekeepers...

I was glad to hear that the UN finally stood up today and put forward a joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping force for the Sudan. However, I still have reservations and I think they are not doing enough. Allow me to elaborate...

First and foremost, although it will be the largest peace-keeping force in the world, it will not be large enough. For those of you looking for facts and figures, allow me to save you googling them...

Fact: The UN-AU force will be 26,000 strong.
Fact: Over 2 Million people are already homeless refugees
Fact: At least (UN estimates are extremely conservative) 200,000 people are already known to have died in the last 4 years of conflict.
Fact: The first peace keepers will not arrive until october
Fact: The Sudanese government have been accused but not tried for War Crimes against their Black Population
Fact: It will cost the UN $2Billion/year to keep the force there.
Fact: They will not be able to shoot militants unless fired upon first or forced to protect civilians from being fired upon.
Fact: They will not have the power to seize unlicenced firearms and illegal weapons of any sort.
Fact: Only one actual "Peace" agreement has been signed, and that was only by two of four warring factions in the Sudanese Capital, Khartoum.
Fact: China actually has a veto over UN action in Africa, and nearly didn't pledge its support.

Basically, I think that if the UNAMID (United Nations and African unions Mission In Darfur) is going to be a success, it will require a few months of talks and negotiations, or there will not be a peace to keep. Too many people have already lost so much that a peace keeping force which is going to antagonise the militia and the government will do nothing but exacerbate the situation and require even more troops etc to be committed.

Again, let me stress that I am extremely glad the UN has finally acted, and I hope it is a good decision. I also hope that it is made for sound reasons, has a sound outcome and allows the people of the Sudan to build themselves back up and turn their countries fortunes around.

I just hope it works.