Unknown assailants attack AU helicopter in Darfur
April 1, 2007 (AL-FASHER) — An African Union helicopter was fired upon by unidentified assailants while flying over Darfur, a statement by the AU ceasefire commission said Sunday.
The helicopter was carrying the Deputy Force Commander from Zalingei in West Darfur to Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The helicopter was shot at the Kurni general area. “Five bullets holes were seen on the body of the helicopter, on landing.” The ceasefire commission said in a press statement.
This was the first time an AU helicopter had been hit.
The AU spokesperson Nourredine Mezni said in a separate statement to the AP that AU force commander Maj. Gen. Luke Aprezi chaired a meeting early Sunday and ordered an investigation into the incident to determine who was responsible.
AU helicopters are clearly distinguishable from the camouflage ones used by the Sudanese government because they are painted white and have ’AU’ written on the side in large black letters .
The ceasefire commission said that the incident took place in the SLA (Wahid) controlled area. “Parties should be reminded that any incident that takes place in their areas of control they will be held responsible and will face the consequences.” the statement added.
Asked by telephone the leader of the SLM/A, Abdelwahid al-Nur, denied to the Sudan Tribune any involvement of his troops in this attack. He urged the AU to investigate the assailants. He said that his troops will cooperate with the AU and probe the incident.
He further condemned the attack saying it is the act of people who are bothered by the AU peacekeepers presence in the region. He further added that the AU knows very well which people use to attack its troops and hinder its mission.
In late December, Maj. Gen. Aprezi brokered a cease-fire with several rebel groups that did not sign last May’s peace agreement with the government. The AU spokesman said the helicopter involved in the incident was being used by officials working to implement the cease-fire, which has not been fully observed.
Some 7,000 ill-equipped and underfunded AU troops charged with the daunting task of pacifying the region, have been in Darfur since June 2004. Sudan has come under increasing international criticism for opposing a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for the AU troops to be replaced with 22,000 U.N. peacekeepers and police.
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Below the text of the AU Ceasefire Commission press release:
The Ceasefire Commission has been repulsed by an incident that happened on 31 March 2007 in Sector 7 whereby an AMIS helicopter carrying the Deputy Force Commander and his entourage from Zalingei to El Fasher was shot at the Kurni general area. Five bullets holes were seen on the body of the helicopter, on landing.
The Ceasefire Commission condemns in the strongest terms, this barbaric act which put at risk the life of a Senior AMIS official and other AMIS personnel who are in Darfur to assist in the peace process and are not party to the conflict.
The perpetrators are yet to be identified, however the incident took place in the SLA (Wahid) controlled area. Parties should be reminded that any incident that takes place in their areas of control they will be held responsible and will face the consequences.
The Ceasefire Commission demands that the perpetrators be identified and reprimanded. AMIS is not going to tolerate such acts and is therefore cautioning the perpetrators.
El Fasher, I April 2007