Gunmen kill blue helmet serving with UN-AU mission in Darfur

A peacekeeper serving with the joint United Nations-African Union operation in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region has been killed after unidentified gunmen ambushed a patrol earlier today.

Three other peacekeepers were injured in today’s attack, which took place about 4 p.m. near the town of Shearia in South Darfur state, according to the mission (UNAMID).

Today’s killing means at least 36 UNAMID peacekeepers have been killed as a result of hostile action since the mission took over from an earlier AU peace operation at the start of 2008.

On Saturday, two other peacekeepers were wounded but survived a shooting attack on the bus in which they were travelling.

More than 23,000 uniformed personnel, including over 17,700 troops, serve with UNAMID across the war-scarred and arid Darfur region of western Sudan, and they are tasked with helping to protect civilians in a region in conflict since 2003.