Community | July 09, 2008 | 21 comments

Peacekeepers killed in Darfur

source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Sudan-Soldiers-From-United-Nations-Africa-Union-...

Image
goldenways

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Sudan-Soldiers-From-Unite...

Five peacekeepers from a UN-African Union force have reportedly been killed after their patrol was ambushed in Sudan's northern Darfur region.

The Suna news agency quoted an unidentified official from the joint force as saying the peacekeepers were attacked by a huge convoy of gunmen riding in 40 sport utility vehicles.

Another 17 peacekeepers remain missing, 18 others were wounded and 10 UN-AU vehicles were destroyed, the report said.

Among those killed, three were from Rwanda, one from Ghana and one from Uganda, Suna said. It did not give details about the gunmen.

The joint force took over peacekeeping duties in Darfur earlier this year with about 9,000 soldiers and police officers.

It is authorised to have 26,000 members, but has contended with chronic shortages of staff and equipment and less-than-adequate cooperation from the Sudanese government.

The peacekeeping force has been unable to persuade the US and other governments to supply attack and transport helicopters, surveillance aircraft, military engineers and logistical support it needs to safely navigate the remote western Darfur region.

Last month, four UN-AU staffers were assaulted and held at gunpoint in Darfur.

One of the staffers was stripped of his belongings, kidnapped briefly and then released by Arab militiamen on horseback, according to a statement from the joint force

The UN has warned of rising banditry and insecurity in Darfur. Attackers killed an Ugandan peacekeeper in May.
  1. groups:
    Community,   News and Politics,   Current News UK,   Current News US
  2. tags:
    News,  News and Politics,  Current News UK,  War,  11 more
  3.     
    |

21 comments // Peacekeepers killed in Darfur

  • clayjj05
    • 0
      clayjj05 [removed]  

    • What do you guys want? To send our troops into darfur and be killed.

      Can you imagine after bashing everything the Military has done in the middle east. "Oh we should defintely go into Darfur even though it has nothing to do with america" wait wait wait

      Oh now you need them

      Last i heard you guys wanted to demilitarize

    • 4 years ago
  • santana01
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • BOYCOTT the Bejing Olympics and their sponsors. Call for Bashir to be brought up to the Hague for crimes against humanity. Expose the relationship between China, the US and other countries there that are supplying weapons not only in Darfur but in Somalia and other countries in Africa to dessimate this continent to get its resources thus allowing this carnage to continue all for OIL and GM foods. Let's do SOMETHING. I wrote the Hague a year and a half ago on my own to call for Bashir's arrest. Why can't thousands do that to make the point? Why is it we always stop at talk?

    • 4 years ago
  • guntown_kid82
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • mrburns
  • flyingkick
  • huffamoose2k
    • 0
      huffamoose2k  

    • We as Americans need to realize that we can't just go into any country we want and expect the people there to just accept us and welcome us with food and open arms. They have seen what we do when we are put in that situation...

    • 4 years ago
  • Blazesboy
    • 0
      Blazesboy  
    • huffamoose2k:

      What does that have to do this story?

      You understand, right, that these were not Americans? That this story has nothing to do with American intervention somewhere?

      This was a joint UN/African Union peacekeeping mission, not some quasi-imperial incursion. This feeble force is trying to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur with very little direct help from any western powers, most of whom are not even allowed into the country by the Sudanese government.

    • 4 years ago
  • huffamoose2k
  • huffamoose2k
  • Blazesboy
    • 0
      Blazesboy  
    • huffamoose2k:

      I see. So you believe that no one should do anything and the international community should just let the rebels murder another 300,00 people or so? Kind of like how no one did anything about Rwanda in the 90s?

      I mean, what exactly is it that you think is going on in Darfur? Who the fuck is supposed to protect these people?

    • 4 years ago
  • huffamoose2k
    • 0
      huffamoose2k  
    • huffamoose2k:

      hey man, take it easy, you're reading too deeply into my comment. I know whats happening in Darfur and I think its horrible. I agree with what you are saying. I dont know WHAT to do over there. I am not a political strategist and I dont know how to resolve African conflicts. I was just commenting that everytime the western world interferes with international problems, it usually causes more problems and maybe even war. Why cant we all just get along. Come on...you blaze, calm down a bit. Sorry to have offended you.

    • 4 years ago
  • RonTayan
  • clintisdakoolest
  • onechance
  • Tori
    • 0
      Tori  
    • Image

    • The two primary rebel groups fighting in Darfur are supposed to receive training in regards to humanitarian issues that they are facing in Geneva - hopefully that might help.

    • 4 years ago
  • abbym0308
    • 0
      abbym0308  

    • The situation in Darfur is no joke. I wonder what needs to happen to get this situation the exposure and attention that it needs. I wonder why it continues to be overlooked.

    • 4 years ago
  • greenfly5
    • 0
      greenfly5  

    • Darfur should be one of the big issues in the upcoming US elections, it disappoints me that this genocide is still being overlooked. History does repeat itself: the Holocaust wasn't widely identified by America until later into WWII.

    • 4 years ago
  • onechance
more from Community:
from the community

top videos