Unknown gunmen ambush peacekeepers in West Darfur

May 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Unidentified gunmen ambushed a battalion of peacekeepers and confiscated their weapons in West Darfur state, the hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID said in a statement.

Between 50 to 60 armed men on horseback, dressed in military camouflage, ambushed the Nigerian battalion on Wednesday afternoon along the new airport road near El Geneina in West Darfur state. The assailant was armed with machine guns, rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

“They stole rifles, ammunition, telephones and cash” the UNAMID said.

The mission said the identity of the armed men is not clear.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon condemned today the attack against the peacekeepers in the outskirts of El Geneina.

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack and urges once again all parties to cease military action and commit themselves to negotiations and a peaceful solution.” A statement said.

The attack which is the fifth attack against the UN African Union force shows how much the hybrid peacekeeping force remains undermanned — with only 9,000 out of a promised 26,000-strong force on the ground — and poorly equipped.

The UNAMID force, which is supposed to help bring security and stability to a region the size of France, is currently at less than a third of its promised strength, with just over 7,000 troops and 1,600 police officers on the ground.

The first attack against the UNAMID was by the Sudanese army on January 7, just one week after the transfer of authority form the AMIS.

The displaced, which the UNAMID is supposed to protect, blame the impotence of the hybrid force and urge the UN Security Council to send western troops for their protection. They say victims of the government militia attacks despite the presence of the hybrid force.

More peacekeepers are expected to be deployed in June. The United States urged the United Nations to get 3,600 new peacekeepers on the ground in conflict-wracked Darfur by June, last April.

The U.S. wants Egyptian, Ethiopian and Rwandan contingents in Darfur by June, Williamson said. He noted that the Ethiopians and Rwandans are already participating in U.S.-sponsored training prior to their deployment.

The U.N. believes that more 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur conflict. Khartoum has been accused of unleashing janjaweed militia forces to commit atrocities against ethnic African communities in the fight with rebel groups.

(ST)