Sudan: gunmen shoot four UNMIS peacekeepers

KHARTOUM, 11th May: Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded four Zambian peacekeepers belonging to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), who were on patrol in Sudan's Abyei area, UNMIS said in a statement today (Wednesday).

The shooting took place on Tuesday afternoon in Goli, some 25 km north of Abyei town, the statement said, adding the four peacekeepers, one of whom is in a serious condition, have been taken to Abyei town for treatment.

"UNMIS strongly condemns this unprovoked attack and has commenced an investigation into the incident," the statement said.

The attack came after an agreement reached between north and south Sudan governments to withdraw all their forces unauthorized to be deployed at the disputed Abyei area and to implement a security agreement inked earlier under the support of the African Union.

UN aid worker killed in Sudan

Santino Pigga Alex Wani, a Senior Programme Assistant working with the UN World Food Programme was killed during an ambush by armed assailants in Jonglei state on 22nd April 2011.

Santino, a Senior Programme Assistant, was on mission with members of WFP’s cooperating partner, Joint Aid Management, or JAM, when the vehicle they were travelling in was attacked.

 

Santino first started working with WFP in 2004. He was born in the Western Equatoria State capital of Yei in Southern Sudan. He leaves behind a wife and a teenage son and daughter.

Sudan: 57 dead in army and militia clash

At least 57 people have been killed in fighting between government forces and a rebel militia in South Sudan, officials have said.

South Sudan army spokesman Brig Malaak Ayuen said dozens were also wounded in the clashes in the state of Jonglei.

The local authorities accuse the government in Khartoum of backing the rebels to destabilise South Sudan, which will soon become independent.

The UN says more than 800 people have been killed in the region this year.

Read more