Darfur Tribal Chiefs Reject UN Peacekeepers
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Courtesy Of: BBC News
Saturday, 10 June 2006

UN ambassadors in Sudan have met with strong opposition from tribal leaders to the deployment of troops in Darfur, including threats of holy war.

The UN wants to take over peacekeeping efforts in Darfur to help implement a recent peace deal signed between the government and the main rebel force.

But one tribal leader has threatened to call for Jihad if non-African troops intervene in the war-torn region.

...However, Khartoum has made clear that it would prefer the AU Peacekeepers to be given more support rather than allow a UN force into the region....


'FOREIGN OCCUPATION'
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Tribal chiefs in Darfur have also expressed resistance to the idea.

"If a UN force is sent here, I will call for Jihad," said Muwad Jalalabin, Chief of the Barty Tribe.

Any deployment of non-African forces in the region would be considered as "foreign occupation," he told the reporters in el-Fasher, the main town in North Darfur.

Osman Kebire, governor of Northern Darfur, also voiced opposition to the UN proposal, telling the Reuters News Agency that the region needed humanitarian assistance but "not troops."

Their comments came as members of Security Council delegation toured Darfur and met with tribal leaders, relief workers and government officials over the proposal.

The 15-strong delegation, which includes envoys from the five permanent council members, arrived in Sudan on Monday in a bid to try and to persuade Khartoum to accept the plan.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5066922.stm