A UN peacekeeping force will not be prepared to take over in Darfur by the start of 2008 unless Sudan accepts units from outside Africa and contributing countries offer critical equipment, a UN official has warned.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Jean-Marie Guehenno said the world could face a grim choice of delaying the takeover or starting the deployment with an ill-equipped force that may not be able to protect its own peacekeepers, let alone civilians.
The United Nations has been wrangling with Sudan over the UN-African Union mission for over a year while the conflict in Darfur has raged.
More than 200,000 people have died since fighting broke out in 2003, and the peace process suffered a setback last month when key rebels boycotted talks in Libya.
Mr Guehenno, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping operations, expressed frustration with Sudan for resisting critical contributions from Thailand, Nepal and Nordic countries.
But he also criticised UN member countries for failing to offer helicopters and other equipment.
"If those issues are not addressed very shortly, it means the mission in 2008 will not be able to make the difference that the world wants to it to make and that it may become a failure," Mr Guehenno said.