7 August 2005

First NATO airlift of civilian police into Darfur Background NATOs assistance to the African Union for Darfur On 7 August, NATO airlifted a team of 49 African Union civilian police as well as an additional 533 military peacekeepers into Darfur. This is the first time that NATO has assisted in airlifting civilian police into Darfur. The airlift was carried out by the United States, in the framework of the Alliance’s support to the African Union. Enhancing NATO’s support Since July, the Alliance has been helping the African Union strengthen its peacekeeping mission in the region by airlifting forces from African troop-contributing countries into Darfur. To date it has airlifted about 1,900 African troops into the region. At the beginning of August, the African Union requested that NATO also assist in the transport of civilian police. The North Atlantic Council, the Alliance’s principal decision-making body, agreed to the request on 5 August. It is being carried out in close coordination with the European Union, which has the lead on police matters in Darfur. Further airlifts are scheduled for September.