One hundred and ninety-six Gambian peacekeepers left Thursday for a peacekeeping mission to the protracted region of Darfur, Sudan, officials said.The soldiers and officers from the Gambian armed forces, police force and navy are expected to arrive in Darfur on Friday. Another group of 196 soldiers are also under preparation for peacekeeping in Sudan which has been locked in a conflict for decades.The Gambian peacekeepers will join other contingents from African countries under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union to maintain peace in the Darfur region.