Sudanese troops are disguising themselves as African peacekeepers to launch surprise attacks on rebels in Darfur. In a report to be submitted to the AUâs Peace and Security Council yesterday, AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare said the Sudanese troops were painting their vehicles white, the color of AU peacekeepersâ vehicles âto disguise their identities and launch surprise attacks on their opponents.â Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol said his military hires vehicles and helicopters that are painted white for transportation, but said the vehicles were never used in combat. âGovernment troops do not need to disguise their vehicles by painting them white to fight the rebels,â he said in the Ethiopian capital.But it was not the first time the AU has accused Sudanese forces of disguising themselves as peacekeepers. The AU had said in October that in a September attack on civilians in a Darfur town and adjacent camp for those displaced by the war, Sudanese forces used government vehicles painted AU white. âThis new development threatens to undermine the credibility of (the African Union peacekeeping mission) and draw the mission into the conflict,â Konare said in his report yesterday.
He said three government vehicles and a helicopter gunship had been spotted painted white. âThe government should ensure that no white colored vehicles are used for military operations. The government should stop using white aircraft and vehicles for any security related activity,â Konare said. A 6,964-strong African Union military and police force has been struggling to stabilize Darfur, saying it needs more financial and other support from the international community.