Tanzania to seek ‘stronger mandate’ for Darfur peacekeepers

The government of Tanzania announced on Sunday that it would seek a “stronger mandate” for peacekeepers in Darfur. The announcement comes after seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and 17 other Unamid personnel injured In South Darfur on Saturday morning when their patrol was ambushed by “a large armed group”. “We want our troops in Darfur to be able to use force to enforce peace and defend themselves against future ambushes from rebels,” said Tanzanian army spokesman Kapambala Mgawe. “We are communicating with the UN to look at the possibility of strengthening the mandate of peacekeepers in Darfur.” Tanzania’s Lt Gen Paul Ignace Mella took up the position of Force Commander of Unamid last month, while the country currently contributes a contingent of 875 troops to the mission’s force. As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas have both expressed “outrage” at the attack. Following a visit to the area at the beginning of July, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous acknowledged and lamented the “deteriorating security situation” in Darfur. “It is absolutely unacceptable that peacekeepers be deliberately, as they were, ambushed and targeted,” Ladsous said after Saturday’s attack. “We want to know who is behind this.” File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid Related: UN ‘outrage’ at attack on Unamid patrol in South Darfur (14 July 2013) Seven Unamid peacekeepers killed, 17 injured in South Darfur ambush (14 July 2013) UN peacekeeping head laments ‘deterioration in security situation’ in Darfur (5 July 2013)