Peacekeepers helping government fortify Darfur town with trench

The African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said it had agreed with the local government to dig a trench two meters deep and two meters wide around the city of Nyala in order to reduce the incidence of abductions and carjackings. The government has agreed to dig half of the trench. In a press statement on Monday the Mission said that the trench will extend about 40 kilometres around Nyala and is expected to be completed within four to five weeks. UNAMID’s Chinese Engineering Company began work on Sunday digging the trench, which aims to reduce the high crime rate. “The measure is designed to reduce the high incidence of criminality by regulating travel to and from the town. While limiting entry and exit through small roads, the town will remain fully accessible through major roads and highways,” stated the Mission.

The announcement followed the kidnapping of two UNAMID police advisors near their residence in Nyala. The two police advisors were later released in Kass, a smaller town northwest of Nyala. Two employees of a German non-governmental organization were kidnapped earlier near the same location.