U.N. Approves Peacekeepers for Darfur

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved the world’s largest peacekeeping force, with as many as 26,000 troops and police officers, to take over operations in Darfur. The joint effort between the U.N. and the African Union will have the necessary mandate to defend civilians and aid workers, but it remains unclear how quickly the force can be deployed.

BBC:

The resolution will allow peacekeepers to use force to defend civilians and aid workers in Darfur from any attack.

At least 200,000 people are thought to have died in Darfur and some 2m have fled their homes since 2003.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the mission as “historic and unprecedented”.

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