World Bulletin / News Desk

The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said Friday that its forces had repelled two assaults by unknown fighters in southern Darfur, leaving four attackers dead and six mission troops and one of the assailants injured.  

"The first attack took place on 23 April around 18:00 hours, when about 40 gunmen on horses and camels opened fire on Nigerian troops protecting a water point," UNAMID said in a statement.

"The attackers made off with one of the mission's vehicles after shooting the driver. The peacekeepers pursued and recovered the vehicle," UNAMID said.

"Four attackers were killed and two peacekeepers and one assailant injured during the exchange of gunfire," the mission said, adding that it had handed over the corpses of the four attackers and the injured person to Sudanese police.

"The wounded peacekeepers were evacuated to [the city of] Nyala for medical treatment," it added.

"I condemn the attacks on the peacekeepers and reiterate the mission's resolve to continue to respond decisively and robustly to any acts of this kind," UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative for Darfur Abiodun Bashua said.

UNAMID has been working in Darfur since early 2008.

With a total budget of $1.4 billion in 2013, it is the second largest peacekeeping mission in the world, containing 20,000 troops, police and personnel from different countries.

Since 2003, Darfur has been the scene of a ferocious war between the Sudanese government and three rebel movements. The conflict has left some 300,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced, according to UN figures.

In 2009, the Darfur conflict prompted the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir amid allegations that Sudanese troops and allied military had committed crimes of genocide in the troubled region.