The African Union has confirmed that the security situation in the Sudanese western region of Darfur has recently improved.

It, however, said that there were still small pockets of clashes between the government and the rebels.

The chairman of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), Mr Mull Katende, said at a press conference in Khartoum on Thursday that the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur had witnessed a major improvement recently.

Peacekeeping mission

Mr Katende further commended the efforts of the Sudanese government to restore stability in the region.

The 15 members of AUPSC have ended a five-day visit to Sudan, which took them to Darfur.

Mr Katende also stated that the joint assessment mission of the UN, AU and the Sudanese government to evaluate the peacekeeping mission in the region had accomplished its work, which will be reported to the UN Security Council (UNSC) next month.

UNSC will use the report to determine whether to extend the mandate of the UN and AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), or to adopt the exit strategy.

Khartoum was insisting on an end to the UNAMID mandate, claiming that the security situation in Darfur has been stabilised.

Mr Katende explained that there was still fighting between the government and the rebels in and around the Marra Mountains.

He added that the fighting had hindered the return of the IDPs to their homeland over security concerns.

Rebel movements

President Omar al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

UN and AU have deployed their biggest peacekeeping mission of more than 20.000 forces in Darfur since 2008.

The civil war in Darfur started in 2003 between the government and the rebel movements operating in the region.