SUDAN:An international peacekeeping mission to Darfur will fail unless donor countries come forward with desperately needed helicopters, according to the man who will command the 26,000-strong force.
Gen Martin Luther Agwai, who heads the African Union (AU) contingent, said he was deeply concerned that no one had so far offered a single helicopter.
He also said it was vital to reduce expectations among rebel groups and civilians about what the peacekeepers can achieve. "I hope the right numbers of troops, equipment and the right capabilities are introduced to the mission because then our chances of success are much, much greater," he told The Irish Times by telephone from his headquarters in El Fasher, north Darfur.
"If they are not, then we will be bogged down by the same problems that we face today."
His AU force of 7,000 soldiers, police officers and ceasefire observers has struggled to protect civilians and aid workers since they were deployed.
This year they have been unable to protect even themselves. Last month 10 died when their base in Haskanita was overrun by gunmen believed to be linked to rebels.
AU commanders say they are outgunned and lack the air transport they need to react rapidly to clashes.
Violence has escalated in recent weeks as rebels and government-allied militias scramble for territory ahead of peace talks due to start in Libya on Saturday.
Hopes also rest with an expanded AU-UN hybrid force that comes into effect on January 1st.
The UN has asked for 18 transport and six light tactical helicopters from its members, but has yet to receive any offers.
Gen Agwai, who will take over the hybrid force, said: "When you don't have air access, even if you have all these forces, to move them becomes a problem. And if you have a crisis, like we had in Haskanita, then you have a problem with reinforcements."
He has watched his soldiers become targets as civilians and rebels lose faith in the AU's ability to protect them.
Now Gen Agwai is concerned that high expectations will mean the hybrid force will face the same backlash if results are not seen rapidly. "I definitely feel so, and have raised it once or twice, not to expect too much from the hybrid force," he said.
He admitted that delays in finding troops and equipment meant that he would only have two extra battalions - bringing his AU force back up to 7,000 after other battalions have completed their stints - by the end of this year.
The best news, Gen Agwai added, would be if the rebels and the government reached a peace deal when they meet in Sirte, Libya. However, several key rebel leaders have said they will not attend the talks, reducing hopes of a breakthrough.