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Adam Siraj, a Darfurian now living in Portsmouth in the UK, told us the money must be made available for the African Union to be effective. Kyber texted in to agree with Adam.

Patrick Smith of the African Confidential newsletter agreed that more money was needed, but questions were raised over whether more money could really help.

Jude in Vancouver asks if NATO should get involved:

NATO seemed to do well in Bosnia after all, and unlike the UN, wouldn't require permission from Sudan. I fear Sudan would never give permission anyway...

Leo in Kuwait thinks the head of the state should be help accountable, and Jason posted on the blog to say

The African Union is a joke. Much like the governments of many countries I see a corrupt group of leaders that do nothing but funnel money for their own self-interest. Name one conflict that the AU has resolved. They are useless.

A listener in Detroit who worked for years in W Africa, contacted us to say:

What seems to be missing on the part of so many African leaders -- is the will to do right by the African people. Far too many hard-working African men and women see unspeakable suffering on a daily basis because so many of those in positions of power are too quick to serve self and cronies rather than work to advance the community as a whole.

Emenike in Nigeria believes...

The AU is fastly becoming a toothless bull dog. It can hardly bark talkless of biting. Member nations must wake up to their roles

Ali joined us on air from Khartoum to say it's not the African Union's fault for all the problems in Africa.

Martin Issa was one of many people contacting us to criticise the Sudanese government:

The African Union can and should not take the blame for not succeeding in Darfur. The Sudan Government simply does not want ANY BODY to succeed. An underfunded,poorly equiped and fickle numbered African Union simply is the wrong force and means to stop this genocide.

Defence for the AU came from Isaiah

They are NOT a joke - The AU is young and growing and will only get better. The African Union ensured democractic transfer of power in Togo after the death of Mr. Eyadema, the hand over of Charles Taylor and the slow process of putting liberia back on track!

Dr Chris Langsberg in Johannesburg said he can see the effects of the AU, Sahr in Sierra Leone believes the AU is a good idea but isn't working, and Adam in Portsmouth who began the debate, called for Arab militia to stop killing and effective African institutions to be brought in.