Darfur: Ban deplores latest attack on African Union-UN peacekeepers

29 December 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned a “cowardly” attack on a convoy of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) that left two peacekeepers dead, and called on the Sudanese authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson said the UN chief was “appalled” to learn of today's armed attack by unidentified assailants on the convoy near Greida, South Darfur. One assailant was killed and another injured by UNAMID peacekeepers in return fire.

“The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms this cowardly attack on UNAMID peacekeepers and expects the Government of Sudan to swiftly bring to justice those responsible for this and previous attacks on UNAMID,” said the spokesperson.

Mr. Ban also expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the Governments of Senegal and Jordan, from which they hailed.

Established by the Security Council in 2007, UNAMID is in charge of, among other tasks, the protection of civilians and contributing to security for humanitarian assistance in Darfur, where fighting between rebel groups and Government forces and allied militia has led to the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people and displaced nearly two million over the past 10 years.