The AU in Darfur
Some of its men have not been paid for four months, over 100 vehicles have been stolen, and 19 of its soldiers have been killed. With a mandate that only allows them to react to violence with diplomacy, many have wondered why the 7000-strong AU force bothered to arrive. Their presence does not seem to have halted the violence, but seems to have wrapped the rest of the world in a warm blanket of complacency, safe in the knowledge that 'at least someone is there'.

Lessons that were painfully learnt in Rwanda are not being headed here; if you task a 'peace force' to halt violence, you have to allow them to take real preventative measures. In saying this I am fully cognisant if the difficulties; governments unwilling to send their sons and daughters into humanitarian battles that fall outside strategic spheres; unwlling to commit the additional budgets required to protect their forces in full battle mode. However, I believe if the objectives of these missions are to be met, and Rwanda-like consequences are to be avoided in Dafur, a greater commitment must be made.