Possible further NATO support for Darfur

On request by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in a telephone call to NATO's Secretary General on 27 March, NATO Allies have agreed today to develop options for possible continued support to the African Union mission in Darfur, and potentially also to a possible follow-on UN mission in Darfur.

These options will not envisage any NATO force on the ground in Darfur, nor a leading role for the Alliance. The Allies will consider these options in the coming weeks.

Darfur Map

Background Information

NATO’s assistance to the African Union for Darfur

Following a request by the African Union (AU), NATO has helped the AU expand its peacekeeping mission in Darfur by providing airlift for additional AU peacekeepers into the region and by training AU forces.

The Alliance continues to support the African Union by providing airlift for troop rotations.

What does this mean in practice?

NATO helped to provide air transport for peacekeepers from African troop contributing countries into Darfur. It also has trained AU troops in strategic-level planning and operational procedures, and provided support to a UN-led map exercise.

From July to October 2005, NATO helped to provide airlift into Dafur for almost 5,000 African Union peacekeepers, significantly boosting the force on the ground.

In addition, several hundred AU officers have taken part in training provided by NATO.

As of February 2006, the Alliance is providing airlift for the rotation of troops. To date this has involved transporting about 2,000 troops in and out of Darfur, with further flights scheduled until May.

The co-ordination of NATO's airlift is done from Europe.

A special AU air movement cell at the African Union's Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is co-ordinating the movement of incoming troops on the ground in Africa.

Both NATO and the EU - which is also providing airlift assistance - is providing staff to support the AU cell, but it is the African Union that is in the lead.

No NATO troops have been or will be deployed to Darfur.

How did it evolve?

The African Union is significantly expanding its peacekeeping mission in Darfur in an attempt to halt the continuing violence in the region. On 26 April 2005 the African Union asked NATO to consider the possibility of providing logistical support to its operation in Darfur.