Russia Steps up to the task in darfur

March 06, 2008

        Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is pleased to see that Russia is offering to send helicopters to the UN African Mission In Darfur (UNAMID). According to the proposal, Russia will not be sending troops along with their choppers. The helicopters will most likely be accompanied by troops from other countries who have committed to send troops to Darfur. Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin has assured the UN that the helicopters can function in the desert, but he did not provide information on the number of helicopters, or type. The UN has stated that six attack and eighteen transport helicopters are need along with the deployment of 26,000 troops to Darfur. Ethiopia has offered five helicopters, four of which are attack helicopters. How Russia’s contribution will help the quota of helicopters needed is uncertain to the International Community.

        It is interesting that Russia is proposing to send “several” helicopters to Darfur and Chad. This is a surprise because Russia has been under scrutiny for violating a UN arms embargo by supplying the government of Sudan with Antonov 12 freighter aircrafts and Mi-24 attack helicopters. Although Russia’s decision to send helicopters to Darfur is praiseworthy, it needs to clear its name by refusing to trade weapons of war with the government of Sudan.
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy would like to encourage Russia and other countries to support the UNAMID by sending more troops and helicopters, in order to put an end to the atrocities in Darfur.