Four Nigerian peacekeepers killed in West Darfur
October 3, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Unknown gunmen killed four Nigerian soldiers and wounded eight others in an ambush in the capital of West Darfur state, El Geneina.
According to the hybrid peacekeeping operation, the assailants opened fire on the UNAMID military patrol from different directions at two kilometres from the office of the mission on Tuesday evening.
UNAMID Force Commander and the Mission’s officer-in-charge, Lt. General Patrick Nyamvumba, who visited the wounded soldiers, condemned the “criminal attack” and called on the Sudanese government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said ”appalled and deeply saddened” by the attack and urged Khartoum to “ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.”
The UN Security Council also condemned the assault on the Nigerian peacekeepers. The 15 member body further reiterated its “full support for UNAMID and called on all parties in Darfur to cooperate with the mission.”
West Darfur state was seen as the most secure and calm since the return of violence in the region particularly in South and North Darfur states.
The state governor Haider Galu Kuma condemned the attack saying security services started their investigations to arrest the perpetrators and to deliver them to justice.
He said the attack might be motivated by the intention to provoke unrest and troubles or by robbery.
UNAMID said they are working with the local authorities at the scene of the incident.
The incident increase the number of peacekeepers killed in Darfur to 42 soldiers.
Composed mostly from African peacekeepers, UNAMID is working in Darfur since 2008 with the objective to protect civilians from violence and attacks by militias and different armed groups.
Sudanese government and former rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) signed a peace deal in July 2011 but three major rebel groups refused the Doha agreement and keep fighting the army.
(ST)