The African Union agreed has a agreed to boost the number of troops in Sudan's Darfur region from about 2,200 to 7,700. The troops are expected to be deployed in Darfur by September.
The peacekeepers have been monitoring the ceasefire agreed to last year. However, many observers say Darfur, which is the size of France, is simply too large for that number of troops to be very effective.
Aid groups say the AU troops of late have helped protect women from attack by militias when they leave the camps to find firewood.
Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal have pledged to send more troops to Darfur.