30 March 2011 - A UNAMID patrol travelling yesterday to Goba, a village located 17 kilometres northeast of Kutum, North Darfur, to verify unconfirmed reports of tribal fighting in the area, was prevented from reaching its destination by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

After stopping the patrol, SAF troops questioned the peacekeepers and asserted that they could not continue without obtaining permission from Kutum’s Police Commissioner. Despite multiple attempts to gain passage, UNAMID convoy was denied to proceed further.

Talks were later held with the Police Commissioner and the SAF local commander in Kutum, and a new verification patrol was dispatched today.