UK condemns killing of AU soldiers in Darfur
March 7, 2007 (LONDON) — Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa Lord Triesman has condemned the killing of two Nigerian soldiers yesterday in Southern Darfur in an area controlled by the Sudan Liberation Army forces of Minni Minawi, Senior Assistant to the President of the Sudan.
Lord Triesman condemned the killing saying “These tragic deaths bring home the reality of the risks that African Union soldiers are facing to protect the citizens of Darfur.” “My condolences go out to the families of the two soldiers killed; he added.
The British Ambassador to the Sudan met Minni Minawi today and raised these attacks with him. Minawi said he was currently investigating what had happened.
On the evening of 5 March, members of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) loyal to Minni Minnawi, Senior Assistant to the President of the Sudan, opened fire on an AMIS vehicle containing four AU soldiers. Two of the soldiers were killed and one wounded. The vehicle is missing.
“The news of these killings comes at a time when attacks on the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) are increasing, with vehicle hijackings and an armed attack on the Finance Officer in El Fasher, North Darfur, last Thursday.”
He condemned the groups involved in these attack loyal to Minni Minawi – they show a lack of commitment to the peace process that they signed up to in the Darfur Peace Agreement. I urge Minni Minawi to condemn these attacks and killings, and call upon the Government of Sudan to investigate and bring to justice those responsible.
He also condemned the recent detention and harassment of workers from the BBC World Service Trust (WST) Darfur project and the related assault of an employee of the International Rescue Committee, by Sudanese Security Services on 26 February. “This treatment was unacceptable, as is the consequent restriction of WST freedom to broadcast. I urge the Sudanese Government to reinstate that freedom immediately and to deal with those responsible appropriately.”
.Minni Minawi was the only rebel group leader to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) in Abuja on 5 May 2006, along with the Government of Sudan. As a signatory to the DPA, he has since been appointed as the Senior Assistant to the Sudanese President. He is also the leader of one faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM).
(ST)