The deployment of blue helmets to the region aims to stop clashes between government forces, Arab tribes and rebel groups representing the interests of native non-Arab population. Since the start of the conflict in February 2003, death toll estimates have varied from 50,000 to 450,000. More than 2 million became refugees.
"We hope this resolution will be adequately perceived by the Sudanese leadership and will... ensure the normalization of the situation as soon as possible and an effective, just settlement in Darfur on the basis of a peace agreement signed in Abuja, Nigeria," the Russian ministry said.
The ministry said 12 UN Security Council members had voted for the resolution on August 31. Russia, China and Qatar abstained, but, the ministry said, Russia "took a proactive part in coordinating this Security Council decision aimed at overcoming a humanitarian crisis and [ensuring] a political settlement in Darfur."
According to the UN decision, the peacekeeping mission will assume responsibility no later than December 31, although Russia's ministry said Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, had not yet officially agreed to a UN operation in Darfur, which could complicate the situation. The ministry said this was why it had abstained on the resolution along with neighboring China and Arab state Qatar.
In 2004, the African Union sent a 7,000 peacekeeping contingent to the conflict zone tasked with observing a ceasefire. Khartoum is in favor of reinforcing the African peacekeeping contingent and has suggested sending more than 10,000 Sudanese soldiers to Darfur to stabilize the situation there.
