African Union to seek US$460 million for Darfur force

ADDIS ABABA - The African Union (AU) is seeking US$460 million ($651.83 million) to more than triple its peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region, a senior AU official said on Wednesday.

The 53-member pan-African body plans to make the request at a donor pledging conference on Sudan on Thursday.

The AU has deployed about 2300 troops to monitor a shaky ceasefire in Darfur in Sudan's west, with international financial backing to pay for the mission.

Its role policing the civil war that has already cost 180,000 lives through violence, hunger and disease is seen as a major test of the African body's peacekeeping abilities.

Said Djinnit, chairman of the AU's Peace and Security Council, said the AU may also consider bringing the force up to 12,000 by September, which would cost an additional US$240 million. That decision would not be made until July 3, he said.

"We are confident that there is great enthusiasm among our international partners to support the AU Mission in Darfur both financially and logistically," he said, adding the African nations asked to provide troops had agreed.

- REUTERS