SA’s peacekeeping troops to be withdrawn from Darfur
by Agency Staff,
2016-02-24 18:07:48.0
SA WILL withdraw its troops from peacekeeping operations in Sudan’s Darfur region, President Jacob Zuma’s office said on Wednesday.
The Presidency also announced on Wednesday that elected officials would receive salary increases of 4.4%, compared with inflation of more than 6% in the country.
South African troops joined one of the world’s largest peacekeeping forces five years after the conflict in Darfur began, but the force has been dogged by allegations by Western powers that it has not done enough to protect civilians, and has withheld information on the scale of violence.
"Members of the South African National Defence Force were employed in Darfur in 2008 as part of the African Union/United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The termination will take effect from April 1," the president’s office said.
The measures come as SA’s economy is struggling and government finances are under strain.
The presidency said that the below-inflation increase of 4.4% for political office bearers nationally and in the provinces for 2016-17 were "in line with the current economic climate."
Presidential spokesman Bongani Majola said, however, the troops withdrawal had more to do with the completion of the mission than with belt tightening by SA.
Reuters
Picture: REUTERS
SA WILL withdraw its troops from peacekeeping operations in Sudan’s Darfur region, President Jacob Zuma’s office said on Wednesday.
The Presidency also announced on Wednesday that elected officials would receive salary increases of 4.4%, compared with inflation of more than 6% in the country.
South African troops joined one of the world’s largest peacekeeping forces five years after the conflict in Darfur began, but the force has been dogged by allegations by Western powers that it has not done enough to protect civilians, and has withheld information on the scale of violence.
"Members of the South African National Defence Force were employed in Darfur in 2008 as part of the African Union/United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The termination will take effect from April 1," the president’s office said.
The measures come as SA’s economy is struggling and government finances are under strain.
The presidency said that the below-inflation increase of 4.4% for political office bearers nationally and in the provinces for 2016-17 were "in line with the current economic climate."
Presidential spokesman Bongani Majola said, however, the troops withdrawal had more to do with the completion of the mission than with belt tightening by SA.
Reuters
Change: 1.89%
Change: 2.31%
Change: 1.62%
Change: 2.40%
Change: 1.36%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 1.10%
Change: 1.29%
Change: 1.89%
Change: 0.00%
Change: 1.13%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 0.49%
Change: 0.66%
Change: 0.56%
Change: 0.58%
Change: 0.34%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 0.15%
Change: -0.43%
Change: 0.07%
Change: 1.04%
Change: 1.74%
Data supplied by Profile Data