A Unamid patrol was ambushed today by an unidentified armed group in Kutum locality.

In a press statement, Unamid reported that the attack to place near Anka village, approximately 55 kilometres north of Kutum.

The perpetrators greatly outnumbered the peacekeepers. They seized one machine gun, four rifles, and rounds of ammunition. One peacekeeper was injured in the incident.

“Unamid condemns such attacks on its personnel. The Mission is working closely with the relevant Sudanese authorities to investigate the incident,” the press statement of today reads.

The area of Anka was the scene of widespread attacks by paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces, backed by the Sudanese Air Force, in July last year. In September, a number of villages north of Kutum town were attacked and pillaged by paramilitaries of the Border Guards.