Security Council Press Statement on Killing of Peacekeepers in Darfur

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Rosemary DiCarlo ( United States):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack by unidentified assailants on an African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) patrol north of Nyala, in South Darfur State, on 13 July, in which seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and 17 peacekeepers and police injured, two of them seriously.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers killed in the attack, as well as to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and to UNAMID.  They called on the Government of Sudan swiftly to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at the serious nature of this attack, one of the most severe attacks on UNAMID since its deployment.  They underlined that any attack or threat of attack on UNAMID is unacceptable, and demanded that there be no recurrence of such attacks.  They reiterated their full support for UNAMID and called on all parties in Darfur to cooperate fully with the mission.

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For information media • not an official record