A Rwandan peacekeeper was killed in an ambush in the Sudanese region of Darfur yesterday, according to the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF).

The deceased was together with 60 other RDF peacekeepers escorting a convoy to Kunguru from Kabkabiya, North Darfur, when they were ambushed by unidentified armed assailants.

"The Non-Commissioned Officer serving in Rwanbatt 40 (31 Infantry Battalion) was killed in line of duty, while serving the people of Darfur, through African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID),” said Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita, Defence and Military Spokesperson. "RDF offers condolences to family, fellow peacekeepers in UNAMID and friends”.

The fallen Rwandan peacekeeper was evacuated to Level II Hospital but had already succumbed to the wounds.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and sent his condolences to the bereaved family.

"The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms this attack on UNAMID and expects the Government of Sudan to take swift action to bring the perpetrators of this and previous attacks on UNAMID to justice,” he said today in a statement.

"The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper, and to the Government of the Republic of Rwanda,” he added.

Rwanda is the sixth major Troop and Police Contributing Country in the world, with over 4,000 peacekeepers, 400 policemen, and 13 military observers in seven UN Missions, including Unamid.