Gunmen kill UNAMID peacekeeper in East Darfur

January 21, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Unknown gunmen killed a Nigerian peacekeeper and wounded another during an ambush on a patrol in East Darfur, the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said today.

The attack took place at about 12:30 at a location called Saleah on the road from El Daein to Nyala, 60 km north west of El Daein, the capital of the new state. UNAMID was not able to identify the attackers but the Sudanese army accused rebel groups.

Sudan Armed Forces spokesperson, Khaled Al-Sawarmi issued a statement in an unusual way before the UNAMID, announcing the assault and accusing Darfur rebels of carrying out the attack without specifying a determined group.

Al-Sawarmi said the rebels captured 37 guns, two Dushka machine-gun and four vehicles. But UNAMID did not mention such loses in its statement.

Ban Ki-Moon condemned the attack and urged “Sudan to carry out a speedy investigation and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice”.

In his statement the United Nations (UN) chief disclosed that three were wounded, one of them seriously, while the UNAMID earlier mentioned only the serious case.

Saturday’s attack brings to 30 the number of peacekeepers killed in Darfur since the start of the hybrid peacekeeping mission at the end of 2007.

Two years ago Nigerian peacekeepers were held hostage by armed men who confiscated their arms and vehicles.

(ST)