An advance party of Tanzanian soldiers has arrived in Darfur to boost peacekeeping operations under a joint African Union-United Nations mission.

It was announced in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the 200-strong Tanzania People's Defence Forces contingent arrived in the strife-torn region of Sudan on Wednesday.

Tanzania has committed a battalion, or 1,000 soldiers, to the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid).

Unamid confirmed the arrival of the soldiers in a statement made available to The Citizen.

The primary responsibility of the advance party is to prepare a campsite for the arrival of the full battalion and to support the distribution of equipment."The main body of the Tanzanian soldiers is expected to arrive in mid-September. They will be deployed in Khor Abeche and Muhajeria in South Darfur,"said the UN press release.

Currently, Tanzania has 13 military observers, 14 staff officers and three liaison officers working with Unamid. Tanzania has also contributed 29 police advisers. The number of troops deployed in the mission is now 14,182.

Unamid is mandated to assist the parties to the conflict to implement the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and any subsequent agreements.

It will do so through contributing to the protection of civilians and the creation of security conditions that would allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian aid as well as the voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes.

Analysts believe that would pave the way for the reconciliation and confidence building necessary for durable peace, security and stability in Darfur.

All arrangements prior to the deployment of the peacekeepers, were carried out by the UN.