Tag Archives: Darfur

Nigerian Army deploys 800 soldiers to Darfur on peacekeeping mission.

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Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, says Nigeria will deploy 800 soldiers to the United Nations Mission (UNAMID) in Dafur, Sudan.

Buratai made the disclosure in Jaji, Kaduna state, during the graduation of 755 soldiers and 45 officers that participated in the pre-deployment training.

The army chief, who was represented by Adeniyi Oyebade, the general officer commanding (GOC), 1 Division, said Nigeria would continue to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contribution to global peace and security.

He tasked the personnel to discharge their duties in consonance with the UNAMID mandate  at all times.

Buratai  said the rule of engagement in the UNAMID gives  them the opportunity to exhibit utmost professionalism in the discharge of their responsibility.

“I caution you to avoid any ugly incident that could tarnish the professional image of the Nigerian Army in particular and Nigeria in general,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria and the United Nations have high respect for human rights and protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

“Maintain zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse; the Nigerian Army and indeed the Nigerian government will also not tolerate the contravention of these policies,” Buratai said

Earlier, Adamu Dauda, commandant of the centre, said the mandate of the institution was to provide quality training for troops earmarked for peace support operation.

Dauda told the personnel to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army and the country in general.

Sudan Accused Of Chemical Weapons Attacks In Darfur

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Sudan’s government has been accused of killing scores of civilians this year in at least 30 suspected chemical weapons attacks in a remote area of the country’s Darfur region.

In a report released on Thursday, Amnesty International estimated that up to 250 people, including many children, may have died as a result of exposure to the chemical weapons agents in the Jebel Marra area since January.

The UK-based rights group, which said that its investigation was based on satellite imagery and more than 200 interviews, alleged that the most recent attack occurred on September 9.

“There have been relentless attacks, there have been crimes against humanity, and now this level of viciousness with the use of suspected chemical weapons,” Tirana Hassan, Amnesty’s director of Crisis Research, told Al Jazeera.

“The use of chemical weapons is a war crime. The evidence we have gathered is credible and portrays a regime that is intent on directing attacks against the civilian population in Darfur without any fear of international retribution,” said Hassan.

Amnesty said it had presented its findings to two independent chemical weapons experts.

“Both concluded that the evidence strongly suggested exposure to vesicants, or blister agents, such as the chemical warfare agents sulfur mustard, Lewisite or nitrogen mustard,” the watchdog said in a statement.

Read More: aljazeera