Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan put forwarded a three-phase support plan aimed at deploying a combination of African Union (AU) and UN peacekeeping force in the Darfur region. The AU, the United Nations and the Sudanese government agreed on the Annan peace plan in their meeting in Addis Ababa on Nov. 16 last year.

According to the plan, the United Nations would provide military equipments, increase gradually its logistic, technical and human power support for the 7800-strong African peacekeeping force in Darfur until a joint UN-AU force which will have 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers is formed.

With the first phase of the plan, also known as a "light support package," already underway, Sudan announced on April 16 that it approved the inauguration of the second phase, also known as "the heavy support phase."

The second phase involves the deployment of 3,000 UN troops and six attack helicopters in Darfur to support the 7,800-strong African force, as well as preparation for the next phase, in which a much larger UN force would be sent to the region.