UNAMID talks about attacks

Aicha Elbasri, UNAMID spokeswoman, was interviewed on Thursday 18 October by Radio Dabanga, concerning the recent attacks against the mission’s peacekeepers near Hashaba, North Darfur. As reported by Radio Dabanga, UNAMID peacekeepers were ambushed on Wednesday morning about 10 km from Hashaba. Witnesses claimed pro-government militiamen carried out the attacks that left one soldier dead and three injured. The four victims come from South Africa. Elbasri said that two of the wounded peacekeepers were transfered to UNAMID medical facility in El-Fasher for treatment. However, she said one of them was subsequently taken to Khartoum as his wounds were “critical”, on Thursday. The third soldier, who was lightly wounded, remains in a medical clinic in Kutum, the spokeswoman added. SLM declarations Elbasri confirmed that UNAMID had spoken with the SLM before the incident, confirming the group’s declarations. She explained the mission was on its way to Hashaba to assess the situation in the region following recent reports of violence, adding that an important part of the work included contacting a number of groups in the area, including SLM leaders. UN Secretary General The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks against the South African UNAMID troops that left one soldier killed and another three wounded. He urged the Sudanese government to conduct a full investigation into the incident and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. West Darfur government and DRA Senior government officials from West Darfur announced in a press statement earlier this week that the perpetrators who ambushed UNAMID troops in El-Geneina, West Darfur, have been arrested. The officials include West Darfur governor Haider Galukoma and the head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Dr. Tijani Sese. As reported, the attack on 3 October left four soldiers dead and another eight injured. Radio Dabanga asked Elbasri whether UNAMID had been officially notified about these arrests, to which she answered the mission was aware of reports stating that individuals were arrested in connection with the attacks. She said that UNAMID had appealed to the government to arrest the perpetrators connected to these crimes and to bring them to justice. Despite announcing the arrests, the officials did not provide any further details about the detainees, such as where they were arrested, what their names are, to which group they are affiliated to and the motives for the attack. The government also did not announce when and where the perpetrators will be brought to trial.