UN Mission in Sudan mourns murder of deputy force commander

The United Nations today strongly condemned “the barbaric killing” of the Deputy Force Commander of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), Pakistani Brigadier General Ahmed Muinuddin, who was shot to death today while on leave in his homeland.

“He leaves behind a gap that will not be easily filled,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for Sudan Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said in a statement, voicing the hope that that “the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act are soon brought to justice.”

Brig.-Gen. Muinuddin joined UNMIS as deputy commander of its nearly 9,000-strong military force, one of the UN’s largest, just five months ago, and Mr. Qazi paid tribute to him as “a professional soldier of the highest merit… [who] had won the esteem and respect of all his civilian and military colleagues.”

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban sent his “heartfelt condolences” to Brig.-Gen. Muinuddin’s bereaved family, UNMIS colleagues and the Pakistani Government.

“He commends the contribution of the Government of Pakistan to peacekeeping efforts in Sudan and elsewhere, and hopes that the perpetrators of the attack will soon be brought to justice,” the statement added.