Darfur: AU-UN mission condemns attack on security officer by Sudanese military

A security officer working with the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today condemned an assault on one of its security officers in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

“Although this could be said to be an isolated incident, UNAMID condemns in the strongest terms such attacks on its staff members, who are here to help bring peace to the people of Darfur,” the mission said in a statement.

The security officer went to the market area in El Fasher yesterday to investigate a road accident involving a UN staff member, a military vehicle and a taxi, according to UNAMID. He had just started taking pictures of the scene when a small group of military personnel assaulted him, despite the intervention of UNAMID civilian staff.

After his release he was taken to a UNAMID hospital in El Fasher to be treated for his injuries.

Meanwhile, the mission reports that its police advisers conducted their first helicopter patrols over five camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur. The three-hour test flight on Sunday was part of an initiative to use helicopters to reach selected camps as an alternative to long-distance road patrols which have proven to be dangerous for the unarmed police advisers.

In a related development, the Joint AU-UN Special Representative Rodolphe Adada met today with the Governor of North Darfur, Mohammed Osman Yousif Kibir. The Governor reiterated the commitment of the Sudanese Government to provide security and protection to UNAMID and its full support for the full deployment of the mission.

UNAMID also reported that a contingent of 250 Egyptian engineers is expected to arrive in El Fasher tomorrow.