Marking
120 years since Australian troops first entered into Sudan, sailors
will join a 15-strong ADF contingent deploying into the war-ravaged
region as part of Operation Azure.
The sailors will join members of the other two Services as part
of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). Headed by Australia’s
first female contingent commander, SQNLDR Ruth Elsley, the team
will deploy to the north African country over the next six months,
where they will take on the roles of UN staff officers and UN
Military Observers (UNMOs).
UNMIS was authorised by the UN Security Council in March to support
the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed
in January by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement/Army.
The agreement ended a 21-year civil war, in which more than two
million people were killed and four million misplaced. The UNMIS
peacekeeping force will comprise up to 10,000 military personnel
from 38 countries.
The peacekeeping force is there to monitor and observe the ceasefire
agreement and they’ll contribute to improved stability and peace
in Sudan. The UN has split southern Sudan into six sectors, which
will be controlled by different troop contributing countries.
The UNMOs will be integrated into teams within the sectors, where
they will work with combat troops to ensure parties accord with
the terms of the peace agreement, providing dispute resolution
when required.
The UN staff officers will be located at the El Obeid airport,
where more than 10,000 troops will flow into the country, and
will assist with logistics, planning and air movements.
LTCOL Mick Humphreys, from Land Headquarters, said personnel were
chosen for the operation based on specific skills and experience,
and would not necessarily be working with other Australians.
“There are 10,000 troops involved in this mission, and we are
only providing 15, so our people will be plugged into UN teams
to work with the other countries that are there,” he said.
He said the deployment would be difficult, as personnel would
be working in areas devastated by long-term war and famine.
“It’s fair to say that Sudan has poor infrastructure, poor communication
systems, the people are desperately poor and have suffered a lot
of trauma because of conflict, so their [the ADF personnel’s]
working conditions will be dire,” he said.
The Australian Government has approved a 12-month commitment of
Australian personnel to Op Azure.st.
