Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

Making the case for a UN mandate for peacekeeping operations to allow force commanders to use necessary force to uphold the UN Security Council decisions, Lieutenant Colonel Johann Heyns of 43 South African Brigade said that the difficulties being experienced by peacekeeping forces in Darfur, Sudan for example showed that there was a need for the deployment of armoured fighting vehicles to support threatened forces.

Although the Sudanese government had consented to the presence of UN peacekeeping forces in Darfur to defend unarmed civilians that were consistently under attack from the Janjaweed militia, Khartoum was believed to be supporting the militia group and also behind some of the attacks on the bases of the peacekeeping forces.

"The strength of a UN force is normally very limited, however there is a definite need for reserves at all levels," he said.

Heyns said there were those arguing that the introduction of infantry combat vehicles in an area might be seen as an escalation. He said he believed that it could equally assist the South African forces and their counterparts deployed in Darfur to calm down the situation. "It shows the resolve of the Force Commander to protect his force, protect the UN mandate and also protect the population under imminent threat," he said.

He said properly armed peacekeepers would be able to do a better job including being able to monitor fearlessly the vast areas that the operation is expected to patrol and protect such as refugee camps.

Also advocating for the deployment of comprehensive infantry combat system, Major Pierre Olivier of the South African Army Amour Formation said this would not just be the show of force but an attempt to ensure that rebel groups and militia were thwarted from ambushing UN observation posts, convoys bringing food aide to camps, demining teams as well as protect humanitarian workers who have been kidnapped and murdered in some instances.

He said Darfur would have been more peaceful had the SANDF supplied with the necessary equipment such as the Rooikat with a few charges and improved wheels. They would need to be supported by unmanned aerial vehicles, attack helicopters. "The flexibility that an armour system provides the commander due to its protection, mobility, firepower and psychological impact must be exploited," Olivier said.