the UNAMID comedy club: brought to you by the Gov of Sudan

Frankly, the government of Sudan’s (GoS) objections to the joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) are just getting more and more ridiculous. It is almost as good as hiring a stand-up comedian… not a bad bonus for life in Sudan, if the whole situation were not also so tragic.

First, there were the objections that showed lack of commitment, if not outright obstructionism, to the joint peacekeeping force:

• Not allowing large cargo flights. Could someone tell me how you build and sustain a viable military force without large cargo transport? Ahem… I didn’t think so.
• Requiring the power to scramble UN radio communications during Sudanese military operations. I mean, I realize this is the UN, but the GoS has to realize that even the UN would not let this fly. Not only does it jeopardize the safety of the peacekeepers and the humanitarian community; it effectively handcuffs the force at the most critical moments of its mission, when attacks are under way by one or the other of the warring parties.

But today, there’s word that the GoS objects to the color of hats the peacekeepers are wearing. Now that’s just silly…