Deadly attack against Darfur peacekeepers draws Security Council condemnation

The Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms” the attack on a United Nations-African Union convoy in Sudan’s Darfur region that resulted in the deaths of two peacekeepers, one from Jordan and the other from Senegal.

The attack by unidentified armed assailants on the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) occurred early Sunday in Greida, South Darfur.

“The members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the families of the peacekeepers killed in the attack, as well as to the Governments of Senegal, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and to UNAMID,” the 15-member body said in a statement to the press.

“They called on the Government of Sudan swiftly to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for UNAMID – which it set up in 2007 to protect civilians and contribute to security for humanitarian assistance in the region – and called on all parties in Darfur to cooperate fully with the mission.

Yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was “appalled” to learn of the attack and called on the Sudanese Government to swiftly bring to justice those responsible for this and previous attacks on UNAMID.