UNITAMS calls to investigate killing of aid worker in Sudan Blue Nile region

January 29, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The UNITAMS head called on the Sudanese authorities to investigate the killing of an aid worker in the restive Blue Nile region.

Unknown gunmen killed Adam Tairab, a staff member of a local group of “Addition Organization for Disaster and Development” (ADD), on Friday, January 27, 2023.

In a statement issued on January 29, ADD said he was shot dead in an area controlled by “unofficial parties” in the evening when the team lost their road to Dim Saad after leaving Yara at 5.00 pm.

The humanitarian team was commissioned by the UNITAMS to conduct a capacity-building programme in the Blue Nile region, which witnessed inter-communal bloody attacks last year.

Volker Perthes on Sunday “strongly condemned” the killing of the aid worker in Giessan areas.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the killing of a peacebuilding adviser who has been working for the United Nations. I express my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” said Volker Perthes.

Perthes further called on the Sudanese authorities “to take swift action to identify the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice”.

The Sudanese government signed a peace agreement with the former rebel SPLM-N led by Malik Agar in October 2020.

However, due to the belated implementation of the peace agreement, particularly security arrangements SPLM/A combatants are still controlling several areas while the DDR programme has been implemented in other areas.

The regional authorities and the SPLM governor did not yet issue a statement to explain the circumstances of the incident.

(ST)