UNAMID loses one peacekeeper at an ambush in Darfur

April 5, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) announced today that one of its peacekeepers was killed at an ambush staged by unknown gunmen.

The attack took place near Kutum in North Darfur when the peacekeepers were returning from conducting a patrol nearby. The soldiers exchanged fire with the assailants killing one of them. However, the gunmen managed to carjack their vehicle and kidnapped three UNAMID staff members.

Two of the abductees were later released. Both sustained injuries and one is reported to be in serious condition. They were taken to Kutum for treatment. The third was discovered to have been killed.

The nationalities of the peacekeepers was not released in UNAMID statement.

UNAMID has more than 17,700 troops – part of over 23,000 military personnel – on the ground in Darfur, a remote and arid region on Sudan’s western flank that has been the subject of fighting between Government forces, allied militia and rebels since 2003.

(ST)