Over 300 Russian peacekeepers serving with UN in Africa
27/10/200904:09
UNITED NATIONS, October 26 (RIA Novosti) - A total of 330 Russian peacekeepers are participating in five UN missions in African countries, including Sudan and Chad, Russia's envoy to the UN said.
"Russian peacekeepers are involved in almost all UN missions on the continent. We intend to continue our support of African countries aimed at strengthening peace and stability in this region," Vitaly Churkin said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday.
As of August 31, 2009, 154 Russian peacekeepers were deployed in Sudan, comprising 123 military personnel from a helicopter support group, 12 military observers and 19 UN police officers.
A total of 118 peacekeepers and four Mi-8MT helicopters take part in the UN mission in Central African Republic and Chad.
The rest of Russian peacekeepers participate in UN operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Western Sahara and Cote d'Ivoire.
Russia has recently rotated military personnel of its helicopter support group in Sudan, which is equipped with four Mi-8 helicopters.
The group provides transport services for UN military observers in Sudan, including accompanying freight, and also carries out rescue operations.
The UN Mission in Sudan was established in 2005 to monitor the peace agreement between the government in Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in southern Sudan, which ended the longest-running civil war in Africa.
The first unit of Russian peacekeepers arrived in Sudan in April 2006. They are expected to stay in the country for up to six years with regular rotations every six months.
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