A Unamid convoy was attacked at the local market of the East Darfur capital of Ed Daein on Monday afternoon. Different sources claim that one peacekeeper was critically injured and that vehicles belonging to the Mission were seized. Unamid affirms \u201cnone of the peacekeepers were injured.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview with Radio Dabanga on Tuesday, the Head of Media Relations of Unamid Christopher Cycmanick, said the Mission \u201chad a patrol out consisting of several vehicles [which] were attacked by a mob\u201d. He said the incident happened on Monday at approximately 6pm and that it is not \u201ccertain\u201d to which tribe the attackers belong.<\/p>\n
Responding to information indicating the injury of a peacekeeper, Cycmanick acknowledged that initial reports suggested this happened, but this \u201cturned out not to be the case, none of our peacekeepers were injured.\u201d<\/p>\n
The head of media relations disclosed that the area is still tense and there is much insecurity and instability in and around Ed Daein. He said the East Darfur Governor and a Minister met today with the local population in Ed Daein \u201cto try to diffuse tensions\u201d, ongoing for about one week, since the 6 of August.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a number of clashes and there is some looting in some other places. It is a very unfortunate situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Concerning the source of the tensions, Cycmanick suggested it is \u201cprobably something that started up [between the Rizeigat and Ma’alia] as disputes over access to resources like land and other things and this turned into rioting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis created a dangerous situation for the civilian population of Ed Daein, [there is] a lot of criminality,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Peacekeeper injured<\/strong><\/p>\n Local sources from Ed Daein who spoke to Radio Dabanga, nevertheless, assured that one peacekeeper was seriously injured in the attack and that he was taken to a hospital for treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cMilitias attacked the Unamid convoy consisting of six double-cab vehicles and one armoured vehicle. They were attacked inside Ed Daein when they went to the market,\u201d an eyewitness said.<\/p>\n He also reported that the militias seized the peacekeepers’ weapons, the armoured vehicle and two double-cabs.<\/p>\n Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the East Darfur secretary-general Ahmed Mohamed Adud, confirmed the attack and also that an injured peacekeeper was taken to a hospital.<\/p>\n Adud said the militants seized the armoured vehicle and the peacekeepers’ weapons, but made no mention about other seized vehicles.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the perpetrators fled with the armoured vehicle, it overturned. The police confiscated it and took to the Ed Daein station,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n Clashes between the Rizeigat and Ma’alia tribes in East Darfur have left hundreds dead and injured since tensions began to rise about one week ago.<\/p>\n While the Ma’alia accuse border guards affiliated to the Rizegat of joining the fighting, the governor of East Darfur claims that \u201crebels have assisted the \u2026 Ma\u2019alia tribe against Riezegat.\u201d<\/p>\n File photo: UNAMID armoured vehicle (unmultimedia.org)<\/em><\/p>\n Related<\/em>: ‘Ethnic cleansing’ accusations as East Darfur death toll rises<\/a> (12 August 2013)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n