afrol News, 23 July - The African Union-UN joint mission yesterday condemned an attack on one security officer by Sudanese military in EI Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Concerns are rising over the troops' security after President Omar al-Bashir was charged with genocide.

The UN-AU Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said the security officer was investigating an accident involving UN staff, taking pictures on the scene, where he was approached by a group of military personnel who assaulted him. He is being treated at UNAMID hospital for severe injuries, UNAMID reports.

"Although this could be said to be an isolated incident, UNAMID condemns in the strongest terms such attacks on its staff members, who are here to help bring peace to the people of Darfur," the mission said in a statement.

Sudan, whose President is facing genocide charges before International Criminal Court (ICC), said the indictment of its President would put peacekeepers at risk. Sudan's AU ambassador, Akuei Bona Malwal, warned that if an arrest warrant would be issued, one of the next casualties would be international peacekeeping operations in Darfur, vowing to protect their leaders.

UNAMID efforts to bring peace to the troubled Darfur region have been frustrated by lack of equipment and reluctance of the Sudanese government to facilitate deployment of non-AU troops in the region. To date, only 9,000 peacekeepers of the 26,000 expected to be deployed in Darfur have arrive, taking over in January from a smaller AU force.

Meanwhile, UN police advisers have conducted their first helicopter patrol around five camps for internally displaced people. The three-hour flight was initially a test to reach selected camps as to cut long-distance road patrols which, have proved to be dangerous to UN police officers, mission stated.

Darfur's five year conflict between rebels and the Sudanese government has killed 300,000 and displaced 2.5 million Darfuris, according to the UN.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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