UNAMID PEACEKEEPER KILLED BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS IN WEST

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001076 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: UNAMID PEACEKEEPER KILLED BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS IN WEST DARFUR ¶1. (SBU) The joint African Union-United Nations force in Darfur (UNAMID) reported that one of its peacekeepers was killed at approximately 1600 on July 16 in the remote area of Forobaranga in West Darfur, near the Chadian border. UNAMID has yet to release an official report, but UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) officers told poloff July 17 that the deceased officer, a Nigerian company commander, was shot in his vehicle while patrolling the market area in Forobaranga. Traveling in a platoon comprised of two armored personnel carriers and an escort vehicle, the victim was in the front seat of the second vehicle when two assailants "in green uniforms" came up and shot him before fleeing. Others who were with the patrol pursued the assailants but were not able to capture them. (Note: A conflicting account from a US Military Observer with UNAMID described the incident as a carjacking and asserts the vehicle was stolen. End note.) ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Although it is not yet clear who is responsible, observers familiar with this area of West Darfur note that it is heavily controlled by janjaweed Arab militias with support from the SAF. A "green uniform" could be worn by any janjaweed unit member or, much less likely in this case, some Darfuri rebels. It is too early to draw any conclusions from this incident as to whether this was simply a routine carjacking or a politically-calculated attack on UNAMID but coming after the July 8 attack on peacekeepers and security measures taken after the July 14 ICC indictment, it is sure to keep UNAMID on edge even if the three issues turn out to be totally unrelated. Post will update with additional information as it becomes available. FERNANDEZ