Deadly attack on Darfur peacekeepers leaves scores dead or injured

July 9, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The joint UN and African Union (AU) troops in Darfur suffered the heaviest casualty since deployment in the war ravaged region drawing widespread condemnation.

The Joint AU/UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) issued a strong worded statement condemning the attack in North Darfur that killed 7 peacekeepers and left 22 wounded.

The UNAMID statement came almost five hours after Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA) reported that 5 peacekeepers were killed and 17 went missing. Later a Sudanese official said that 13 peacekeepers were killed but there was no confirmation of the new figure.

“AU/UN peacekeepers are here to assist the people of Sudan and any attack on them is totally unacceptable” the UNAMID Joint Special Representative Mr. Rodolphe Adada was quoted in the statement.

The gunmen attacked the peacekeepers in an area called Umm Hagiba, about 60 miles from UNAMID’s camp in North Darfur.

Shereen Zorba, deputy spokeswoman of UNAMID said the ambush occurred as the peacekeepers were returning to their camp after investigating the recent slayings of two rebels affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Army led by Minni Minawi. She declined to say who was behind the attack.

But another U.N. official said drivers in the UNAMID convoy lost control of their vehicles when they came under attack. Members of the unit then ran in different directions and the attackers chased them, the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose details of the attack to the media.

The attackers used heavy weapons and engaged the UNAMID convoy in an exchange of fire for more than two hours.

This is the first time UNAMID troops are reported to use firepower since being deployed in January.

Five Rwandan soldiers and two police officers, one from Ghana and the other from Uganda, were the victims of today’s assault.

It was not immediately clear who stood behind the attack but the UN said the assailants were gunmen on horseback suggesting that they to the pro-government Janjaweed militia accused of committing the worst atrocities since the Darfur conflict broke out.

However Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali Al-Sadiq speaking to Associated Press blamed Sudan Liberation Army-Unity faction for the attack.

Earlier today Sudanese Media Center (SMC) website widely known to be the media arm for the Security and intelligence bureau said that Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) carried out the attack but provided no details.

JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein speaking to Sudan Tribune by phone from Geneva dismissed SMC claims as “government propaganda”.

“The assault is really on the people of Darfur not just the peacekeepers. We always believed that people should assist UNAMID in every way possible which is why we had a meeting with them a few days ago” he said.

“This attack is a blatant violation of international law and the culture of the Sudanese people. We call for an international investigation and bringing those responsible to face justice. Our condolences go to the families of the fallen soldiers” Hussein added.

Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) called the assault “a heinous crime”.

“It is a stern reminder to the world that the UNAMID peacekeepers lack the tools needed to protect themselves let alone the civilians. This is not an environment that will move us closer to peace” he added.

The United Nations has for months been seeking six attack and 18 transport helicopters to support the force. The US criticized the UN Secretariat for moving too slowly on deployment.

But the UN responded by saying that logistical and training issues are slowing down the process of sending boots to Darfur.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) issued a presidential statement saying that “any attack or threat against UNAMID is unacceptable”. They also called for prosecuting the perpetrators.

The US State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said their top diplomat in Khartoum is in contact with Sudanese officials to find more information about the group behind the attack.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it is still investigating the attack against African Union peacekeepers that took place last October that left 10 soldiers dead.

International experts also say more than 300,000 were killed and 2 million have been driven from their homes by the conflict in Darfur, a region that is roughly the size of France.

(ST)