US to help train Darfur peacekeepers

KIGALI - The United States government will help Rwanda in training and equip peace keeping troops deployed in the Sudan’s war-torn region of Darfur, the army has said. Rwanda Defense Force spokesperson, Major. Jill Rutaremara said yesterday nine hundred soldiers comprise the first part to be trained and equipped. He said after the training, they will immediately be deployed in Darfur by June this year. Another 1,600 will be trained in August for the mission. “We have already been training our soldiers but the assistance from US is obviously a big boost to our soldiers. It will add value and capacity to the troops,” Rutaremara said on phone. He said the assistance was part of the aid to the country’s $20million grant from U.S President Bush’s $100million pledge to help African peacekeepers. The training assistance was also confirmed on Wednesday, by the U.S special envoy to Sudan, Ambassador Richard Williamson. “Part of the training equipment has already arrived in the country,” Rutaremara added. A joint U.N.-African Union hybrid mission took over duties in Darfur from the AU force in a bid to halt the killings in Darfur. Four Rwandan battalions with about 2,700 troops are currently stationed in the war-torn Darfur region. Rwanda has deployed her troops in the war-torn Darfur region since 2004. Ends