UN peacekeepers denounce attacks

The leadership of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), on Sunday, condemned “in the strongest terms” the criminal act by a group of armed men who left a pregnant woman on the road after carjacking an ambulance in North Darfur.The criminal act by the unidentified “group of armed men” occurred on a road in Drouk valley, 30 kilometres northeast from Dar Asalam, in North Darfur.A UNAMID statement e-mailed to The New Times says that according to eye witnesses, approximately 30 assailants affiliated to an armed movement from the area stopped the ambulance belonging to Dar Asalam hospital carrying a pregnant woman to El Fasher Hospital.The statement says that the group abducted the ambulance driver and took the car, leaving the woman on the roadside.She was later rescued by a passing local vehicle and transported to El Fasher, the North Darfur provincial headquarters as well as UNAMID headquarters where a strong Rwandan peacekeeping contingent is based.“This assault is an act of cowardice that is unacceptable, morally reprehensible and beyond the realm of criminality. I urge the Government of Sudan to bring the perpetrators to justice,” UNAMID Force Commander Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, is quoted.The Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political), Aichatou Mindaoudou, also expressed her outrage at this incident and urged the local authorities to promptly conduct a thorough investigation of this crime, extending the full support of the Mission to that end.“Such shocking acts of criminality should not be tolerated. Impunity must not have a place in Darfur and the rights of women are to be fully protected,” Mindaoudou is quoted.The RDF maintains over 3,200 peacekeeping troops in Darfur.

National

UN peacekeepers denounce attacks