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 “none of the peacekeepers were injured.”

In an exclusive interview with Radio Dabanga on Tuesday, the Head of Media Relations of Unamid Christopher Cycmanick, said the Mission “had a patrol out consisting of several vehicles, the vehicles were attacked by a mob” on Monday at approximately 6pm. He added it is not “certain” from which tribe the attackers belong.

Responding to information indicating the injury of a peacekeeper during the attack, Cycmanick acknowledged that initial reports suggested this happened, but this “turned out not to be the case, none of our peacekeepers were injured.”

“There are a number of clashes and there is some looting in some other places. It is a very unfortunate situation,” he said.

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 “to try to diffuse tensions”, ongoing for about one week, since the 6 of August.

Concerning the source of the tensions, Cycmanick suggested it is “probably 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.”

“This created a dangerous situation for the civilian population of Ed Daein, [there is] a lot of criminality,” he concluded.

Peacekeeper injured

Local sources from Ed Daein who spoke to Radio Dabanga, nevertheless, assured that one peacekeeper was seriously injured in the attack and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

“Militias 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,” an eyewitness said.

He also reported that the militias seized the peacekeepers' weapons, the armoured vehicle and two double-cabs.

Ahmed Mohamed Adud, East Darfur secretary-general, also confirmed the attack to Radio Dabanga and that one peacekeeper was injured and taken to a hospital.

Adud said the militants seized the armoured vehicle and the peacekeepers' weapon but made no mention about other seized vehicles.

“When the perpetrators fled with the armoured vehicle, it overturned. The police confiscated it and took to the Ed Daein station,” he stated.

Clashes between the Rizeigat and Ma'alia tribes in East Darfur have left hundreds of dead and injured since tensions began to rise about one week ago.

While Ma'alia is accusing border guards affiliated to the Rizegat of joining the fighting, the governor of East Darfur claims that “rebels have assisted the … Ma’alia tribe against Riezegat.”

File photo: UNAMID armoured vehicle (unmultimedia.org)

Related: 'Ethnic cleansing' accusations as East Darfur death toll rises (12 August 2013)