CIVPOL Web Site - UNAMID peacekeeper shot and killed in South Darfur

Anonymous writes "El Fasher, 8 May 2009. The African Union-United Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) announces with deep regret that one of its peacekeepers was shot and killed last night in South Darfur during a carjacking incident

At approximately 20:30 hours, unidentified gunmen shot the male military observer as he was opening the gate of his residence in Nyala, the state capital, to park his vehicle. The peacekeeper was rushed to a nearby UNAMID medical centre for treatment but died upon arrival.

UNAMID, which has started its own probe into the attack, informed local officials with Sudanese Government police and national security, who are also investigating the killing. The military observer’s vehicle was later found abandoned about seven kilometers away from Nyala.

The late peacekeeper’s name, rank and nationality have not yet been released pending notification to next of kin. He is the 15th peacekeeper killed as a result of hostile action since UNAMID deployed at the start of 2008.

Joint AU-UN Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, condemned the killing in the strongest terms, emphasizing that attacks on peacekeepers constitute war crimes.

“This attack is deplorable. UNAMID peacekeepers are here to assist the people of Darfur, and any attack on them is totally unacceptable,” said Mr. Adada. “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who lost his life.”

Mr. Adada called on the Sudanese Government and the parties to the Darfur conflict to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of last night’s shooting to justice.

While the overall number of carjackings and thefts of UNAMID vehicles has declined since last year, such incidents continue across the region, particularly in South Darfur. A Nigerian peacekeeper was shot and killed during an ambush of a Mission escort patrol near Nyala on 17 March.

Note: Source:http://unamid.unmissions.org"