Unamid vehicle hijacked during Sudan V-P’s visit to North Darfur

A vehicle belonging to the Unamid peacekeeping mission, which was part of the convoy escorting Sudan’s Second Vice-President Hasabo Mohamed Abdelrahman during his visit to Kutum locality in North Darfur, was briefly hijacked by militants on Tuesday. A contingent of the Sudanese army managed to recover the vehicle later.

A witness told Radio Dabanga that a group of militants driving a land Cruiser and others riding motorcycles stormed the vehicle, which was accompanying a parade of the second vice president, who was on his way to open a health centre at El Zariba district east of Kutum.

During the attempt to escape the attackers, the Unamid vehicle became stuck in the sand. The gunmen forced the driver out of the vehicle, released it from the sand, and drove off.

A contingent of the Sudanese army who were also part of V-P Abdelrahman’s escort managed to recover the vehicle later. There were no reports of any casualties.