Sudan dispatches troops to protect UNAMID site, recovers equipment
December 26, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities have deployed over 2000 troops at the former UNAMID Super Camp and recovered some assets looted by former rebels and civilians, said the foreign ministry in Khartoum.
On Friday, combatants of a signatory group looted the northern part of the under liquidation camp in El-Fasher four days after its handover to the state authorities.
They were followed by the crowd who looted the property and assets, repeating what happened in several UNAMID sites after the withdrawal of the hybrid force from the region.
The Sudanese foreign ministry on Sunday “strongly” condemned the looting of the UNAMID base and confirmed that elements affiliated with an armed group were involved in the looting.
“The State’s Security Committee immediately dispatched a force of 40 military vehicles to protect the camp in response to these criminal acts on Friday,” said the foreign ministry.
On Saturday morning, this force was reinforced with members of the joint security force consisting of 180 military vehicles to protect the whole camp and the international staff, added the statement.
UN Spokesperson Farah Haq on Saturday requested the Sudanese government to protect the UN team residing in the southern part of the camp which would complete its mission in June 2020.
The authorities did not identify the signatory group that stormed the camp and looted its property and assets.
Several armed groups that have troops in El-Fasher camped near the base with the hope to control it when it is handed over to the Sudanese government.
Several days before the attack, the State governor in vain requested them to evacuate the area and to gather outside the North Darfur capital.
The foreign ministry, however, said the state authorities filed lawsuits against the perpetrators and arrested some people involved in the looting.
“The police managed to recover some of the looted equipment and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” further stressed the statement.
(ST)