The United Nations Security Council voted on Thursday to keep peacekeepers in Darfur for an additional 12 months citing a still fragile security situation and slow political progress. “There is still serious concern ... about the security situation on the ground and the rather slow progress in the political track,” British U.N. Ambassador John Sawers told reporters after the 15-nation council passed a resolution on the peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID. The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force deployed 18 months ago and so far has a little over two-thirds of its mandated strength of 26,000 on the ground. The mission is also lacking 18 of the 24 military helicopters it needs to operate at full capacity. The British-drafted resolution decided “to extend the mandate of UNAMID ...for a further 12 months to July 31 2010” and directed the force to make full use of its capabilities to protect civilians in Darfur and ensure “safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access.”
