Darfur rebel leader condemns killing of UNAMID peacekeeper

April 6, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — A Darfur rebel group condemned today the killing of a female peacekeeper in Darfur and accused Khartoum’s supported militias of being behind this aatck.

the female police adviser was killed during an ambush by unknown gunmen on a UNAMID patrol Tuesday afternoon in Kutum, North Darfur state. Two other policewomen from the hybrid mission were injured during the attack.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on the UNAMID police female in Darfur yesterday,” said Abdel Wahid Al-Nur the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in a statement to sent to Sudan Tribune, on Wednesday.

The rebel leader said that Sudanese authorities bear the responsibility of this aggression adding “Khartoum arm, pay and protect them to be part of the terror policy implemented in the region”.

He extended his condolences to the head of the hybrid operation Ibrahim Gambari and all the members of the mission for this loss. He further said this incident should encourage the UN Security Council to review the current mandate and extend it to better protect themselves and civilians.

The joint mission Wednesday mourned the death of the Sierra Leonean national police adviser at the UNAMID headquarters in El-Fasher.

“No more has this loss been felt so much as in this past week,” said the acting Head of Mission Lt Gen Patrick Nyamvumba during the remembrance ceremony. While the UNAMID Police Commissioner James Oppong-Boanuh recalled in his address the accomplishments of the fallen officer.

Yesterday’s attack brings to 28 the number of peacekeepers killed in Darfur and marks the first time that a female police officer has been killed in action since the Mission’s inception.

(ST)