UNAMID PR / 15-2010

UNAMID peacekeepers remain unaccounted for; carjacking, abduction likely

El Fasher, 14 April 2010 – Four UNAMID peacekeepers from South Africa have not been seen or heard from in more than 72 hours.

The unarmed police advisors last movement was reported at 16:00 hrs on 11 April 2010. The group, consisting of two women and two men, had just departed their team site outside of Nyala, South Darfur, on a 7km journey back to their private quarters.

“Despite an all-out effort on every front, the peacekeepers and their vehicle remain unaccounted for. Our concern is that that we are now facing a carjacking and abduction situation. Notwithstanding recent media reports, we have not been contacted by any party nor have we received any claim or demand of any sort,” said UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari, who has been in constant contact with Sudanese Government officials.

UNAMID has continued to mobilize all its resources in the region and is working in close cooperation with the Government of the Sudan and local authorities in the search for the missing peacekeepers.