Darfur: Convoy Ambush and Helicopter Incident near Sirba

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002826 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF AU UN SU SUBJECT: Darfur: Convoy Ambush and Helicopter Incident near Sirba ¶1. (U) On December 9 at approximately 1500, armed men ambushed a commercial truck near Sirba, 45 kilometers from El Geneina, capital of West Darfur State. UNDSS estimates cite 22 civilians killed, and 10 wounded by gunmen on horseback armed with RPGs and assault rifles. ¶2. (SBU) According to UNDSS and AMIS contacts, at 4:40 p.m., the Sector Commander sent an AMIS helicopter with three crew, an EU Military observer (MILOB),five protection force soldiers, a medic, and an interpreter to the site to investigate and medevac casualties. The helicopter landed at 5:00 p.m.; an angry mob promptly surrounded it, demanding to know why the AU had not protected them and why medevacing casualties took so long. They also demanded that an investigation start immediately. The protesters took the Thuraya satellite phones and weapons of the passengers and crew, and prevented the departure of the helicopter. ¶3. (SBU) The EU MILOB said the mob forced him and the AU representatives to the ambush site to investigate and photograph the evidence. They then returned to the police headquarters, where the Mil Obs addressed representatives of the protestors, calling for calm. The Sirba police took the passengers and crew to their headquarters for protection. ¶4. (SBU) At approximately 12:00 p.m. on December 10, a stone-throwing mob attacked the AMIS camp in El Geneina. Assailants fired at least one RPG-7 round into the camp, although it did not explode. PA&E staff took shelter in their safehaven. The U.S. MILOB in El Geneina reports that the Sector Commander was "roughed up" by protestors, and that his protection force shot three people, killing two. Police surrounded the camp in an effort to restore order. ¶5. (U) AMIS Force Commander Maj. General Luke Aprezi appealed to the Sudanese Government to intervene immediately to facilitate the release of the personnel and aircraft. At 5:30 p.m. on December 10 a Sudanese Armed Forces team arrived, secured the aircraft via MI-24 helicopters and ground troops; they proceeded to the police station to release the detained personnel. PA&E staff report that the helicopter departed and arrived safely in El Geneina at 6:10 p.m. HUME