The African Union (AU) has launched an investigation into the killing of five of its peacekeepers by unidentified assailants in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, saying attacks against its troops were increasing.
– It was a heinous crime against peacekeepers, Noureddine Mezni, spokesman for the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), told IRIN on Monday.
The attack was carried out late on Sunday at Um Baru, some 220 km from El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The soldiers were guarding a water point when they came under attack. Four of them died on the spot while the fifth one succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning.
Three of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gunfire with the peacekeepers.
– We are very concerned over the increasing number of attacks against our personnel and we will not tolerate it, said Mezni.
The attack happened about 24 hours after a helicopter carrying AMIS’s deputy commander and other officers was shot at in the Kurni area of Western Darfur. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
Mezni said an investigation was underway to determine which one of Darfur’s various armed groups was responsible for the attack on the peacekeepers.
