7 October 2008 – A group of peacekeepers serving with the joint United Nations-African Union operation in Darfur were ambushed yesterday afternoon while on patrol.

UNAMID spokesperson Kemal Saiki announced that one Nigerian UN peacekeeper was killed as a result of the ambush, which took place about 75 kilometres north of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state.

The blue helmets with UNAMID were conducting an assessment patrol from Nyala to Khor Abeche when the attack occurred at Menawashei.

UNAMID forces later captured one of the attackers and handed him over to Government of Sudan (GoS) police in Nyala.

UNAMID will investigate the circumstances and cause of this attack and will increase its patrols in the area. 

UNAMID forces and aid workers, both from the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become increasingly popular targets for combatants in the Darfur conflict that has pitted rebels against Sudanese Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen since 2003.

UNAMID, which is expected to have about 26,000 troops and police officers when it reaches full strength, has been deployed to try to quell the fighting and the humanitarian suffering across Darfur, an arid and impoverished region bordering Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).