Australia Strengthens its Commitment to Sudan
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Media Release
8 May 2007
The Australian Government has announced additional funding of $2.5 million over three years to enable Australian Federal Police to continue working alongside Sudanese Police to restore law and order in the troubled African nation.
The Australian Government Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator David Johnston said the AFP currently has 10 members working in mentoring and capacity building roles as part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).
They are part of the International Deployment Group, which deployed its first contingent to Sudan in March 2006.
“The new funding announced in this Budget will enable the AFP to maintain its commitment of 10 members in Sudan until September 2009 and demonstrates the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to the UN and its work.”
“The AFP has already achieved considerable success in strengthening the capacity of Sudanese Police for responding to law and order challenges in their region,” Senator Johnston said.
“This has been achieved through the provision of training in basic policing skills which have been well received by the Sudanese Police.”
“The AFP is also helping to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and surrounding regions.”
The initial deployment followed an invitation from the UN Secretariat to the Australian Government in November 2005 to support a mission to develop the Sudanese Police Service and monitor compliance with the international Peace Agreement for Sudan.
Media Contact: Robert Broadfield Minister’s Office (02) 6277 7260