UN condemns killing of an Egptian officer in Darfur

May 26, 2007 — (KHARTOUM AND EL FASHER) — The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) unequivocally condemns the killing, during an armed robbery, of Lieutenant-Colonel Ehab Nazih, an UNMIS Military Staff Officer, in El Fasher on the night of 25 May 2007. He was serving in Darfur under the Light Support Package (LSP) to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).

UNMIS extends its condolences to the Government of Egypt and to the family and colleagues of Lt. Colonel Nazih.

The exact circumstances of the attack are still under initial investigation. However it is known that at about 2330 in the evening of Friday 25 May, three armed men, wearing civilian clothes, broke into the private house shared by Lt-Colonel Nazih and seven other UNMIS staff.

After taking money and valuables from the other occupants of the house, the armed men moved to the victim’s room and demanded money from him. Lt. Colonel Nazih gave them all the money he had, but the attackers then shot him.

He was rushed to the AMIS Level II Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 0100 hours on 26 May 2007.

UNMIS wishes to thank the AMIS staff and medical personnel who did all they could to save the life of their UNMIS colleague.

The Mission will cooperate with the Sudanese authorities to apprehend the killers of Lt. Colonel Nazih, and hold them accountable. UNMIS is also taking urgent measures, in coordination with the Sudanese authorities, to prevent further attacks of this nature from taking place.