DAKAR, 13 April 2007 (IRIN) - DAKAR, 13 April 2007 (IRIN) - Senegal's government has threatened to pull out its 500-strong contingent currently serving as part of an African Union peacekeeping force in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur after five Senegalese soldiers were killed there earlier this month.

"If the African Union does not have the means to assure accordingly the security of the contingents deployed on the ground, [the Senegalese government] can contemplate the withdrawal of its contingent," the Council of Ministers said in a communique on Wednesday.

The five Senegalese soldiers were killed while guarding a water point near the Sudanese border with Chad on 1 April.

The latest incident brings to 15 the number of African Union soldiers killed in Sudan since the deployment of the force in 2004.

The Senegal government's communique also criticised AU countries for not equipping the African force in Darfur "to face the insecurity and to stabilize the situation on the ground".

Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Senegal's minister of foreign affairs told journalists on Thursday: "For Senegal, enough is enough. The minimum description for the situation there is an atrocity and it's no wonder why African countries cannot raise 20,000 troops for Darfur since 2003."

Babacar Justin Ndiaye, a Senegalese political commentator said: "With the ceaseless provocations from auxiliaries of the Sudanese army, Senegal wants to provide a form of protection for its soldiers. The decision of withdrawal is due more to operational reasons than elections or a social concern."

Senegal has participated in several regional and international peacekeeping missions since 1991.

About 2,000 Senegalese troops are participating in several UN Missions including Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic and Liberia. Senegal has formed part of previous UN peacekeeping forces in Sierra Leone, Haiti, Rwanda and Bosnia.

ab/ak/nr

IRIN news