El Fasher, N. Darfur, 9 July 2008 – The Joint AU/UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) joins the Secretary-General of the United Nations in condemning in the strongest terms the attack on its peacekeepers that took place on the evening of 8 July in North Darfur.

“AU/UN peacekeepers are here to assist the people of Sudan and any attack on them is totally unacceptable,” said the UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Mr. Rodolphe Adada. “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers who lost their lives,” he added.

The joint UNAMID military and police patrol team was ambushed by unknown armed men in Um Hakibah village (12 km west of Wadah, 100 km southeast of El Fasher) while on their way back to their camp in Shangil Tobaya from an investigation patrol. The perpetrators were onboard 40 vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns, anti-aircrafts and recoilless weapons.

During the attack, the team was engaged in a heavy and sustained fire, which lasted for about three hours, resulting in the loss of lives and severe injuries.

Seven peacekeepers were killed and twenty-two were wounded. The injured personnel are being evacuated to Khartoum for treatment. No peacekeepers are missing.

The Deputy Force Commander, Major General Karake Karenzi, has visited the troops and the scene of the incident to reassure them of UNAMID’s support and ascertain the circumstances behind the attack. The Deputy Joint Special Representative, Mr. Henry Anyidoho, also visited the wounded in UNAMID level II hospital in El Fasher before they were moved to Khartoum.

UNAMID press statement