Sierra Leone peacekeeper dies 3 months after attack in South Darfur

October 1, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A peacekeeper from Sierra Leone died after suffering from bullet wounds following an attack on his patrol near Khor Abeche, South Darfur on 13 July, announced the hybrid operation on Tuesday.

The African Union United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said that the police adviser who was seriously injured died in the hospital on 30 September in a Khartoum Hospital.

“The Mission and its leadership would like to extend their deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of late Police Advisor during this moment of grief”, the UNAMID said.

“This is a reminder to all of us of the sacrifices that uniformed peacekeepers make while carrying out their noble duty”, said the AU-UN Deputy Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Joseph Mutaboba.

Last July, unidentified gunmen attacked a patrol of the joint peacekeeping mission in South Darfur state on Saturday, killing seven Tanzanian soldiers, in an ambush 25 kilometres west of the UNAMID base in Khor Abeche.

17 peacekeepers were also wounded including two female police officers.

In New York, UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon said saddened to hear that the Sierra Leone police advisor succumbed to his injuries on 30 September.

He “extends his deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late police advisor and reiterates his expectation that the Government of Sudan will take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice”, said Ban’s spokesperson on Tuesday .

(ST)