Gunmen kill child and peacekeeper in Abyei

November 27, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A four-year child and an Ethiopian military officer of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) were killed the disputed areas of Abyei, said a statement by the peacekeeping mission on Friday.

The two victims were killed when seven shells were fired from the north-westerly direction of Abyei town, by unidentified people on Thursday evening at 09:09pm local time.

“Five of the shells landed around the vicinity of the residence of the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief and another inside his compound, while the third landed at a nearby primary school,” said the UNIFSFA in a statement extended Sudan Tribune..

The peacekeeping mission further said that “three other locals” presumably Ngok Dinka were wounded adding they are receiving treatment in the Abyei hospital.

The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack on the residence of the Ngok Dinka paramount chief and called on the Sudanese and South Sudanese government to “assist UNISFA in swiftly bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice”.

Ban “calls on both communities to remain calm and avoid any escalation of this tragic incident,” further said a statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

He further expressed his deepest condolences to the Government of Ethiopia, to all UNISFA personnel, and to the families of the two victims.

UNISFA termed the attack as the work of “anti-peace elements who do not want to see peace return to Abyei”.

The incident came at a time the mission and other stakeholders are mobilizing efforts to hold a peace conference to address the root causes of the conflict between the two communities of Ngok Dinka and Misseriya.

Sudan and South Sudan failed to hold an agreement over who can participate in a vote to determine the future of the region after the independence of South Sudan. Both communities claim the ownership of the area.

(ST)