Rwandan troops clean Darfur in Umuganda

Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on Thursday carried out community work to clean and protect the environment in El Fasher town in the troubled Sudan region of Darfur. During the community work, done on the United Nations Environmental Day, the peacekeepers planted 300 trees at El Fasher University, cleaned dirty places and collected used plastic bags in El Fasher, the Capital of the Darfur province. Among the high profile participants were the deputy Wali (Governor) of North Darfur Abu Abas and Rwandan Contingent Commander Col. Sam K. Baguma. Wali thanked Rwandan peacekeepers for their encouraging turn up and their continued commitment to change a dessert place into a green environment. “Really, you are showing us that, apart from being peacekeepers you are also concerned with our environment protection,” he said. Rwandan peacekeepers have introduced Umuganda wherever they are deployed. Analysts say the value of Umuganda, the monthly community work, to the country’s development since 2007 is estimated at more than $60 million.