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Sudan Tribune

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French peacekeeper goes missing in Sudan

March 3, 2008 (PARIS) — A French soldier from the European peacekeeping force in Chad was reported missing Monday after his vehicle accidentally crossed the border into Sudan.

EUFOR logo
EUFOR logo
The 3,700-strong EUFOR has a UN mandate to provide security for more than 400,000 Darfuris refugees or Chadian IDPs in eastern Chad. More than half of the force will be provided by France.

“A single soft-skinned Landrover-type vehicle strayed unintentionally three kilometres (two miles) into Sudan” in the Tissi area, southwest of the European force’s (EUFOR) area of operations, it said in a statement.

“An attempted recovery of the vehicle was met with hostile fire and they left the area.” The incident occurred nearly two miles across the Sudanese border in the Tissi area, where Chad, Sudan and Central African Republic meet.

“At this time, it can be stated that one EUFOR personnel is currently missing but no further information can immediately be released for operational reasons.”

The army headquarters in Paris said the missing soldier was French, adding that another French soldier found in the vehicle was recovered.

The second soldier, lightly wounded, was evacuated by helicopter to Birao field hospital in the Central African Republic.

The EUFOR mission was deployed last month after a brief delay caused by a rebel attack on the Chad capital Ndjamena.

At least 200,000 people have died from the combined effects of war, famine and diseases in Darfur since ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Sudan’s Arab-dominated regime in February 2003, resulting in a crackdown by government troops and Janjaweed militias.

EUFOR is commanded from France by Irish Major General Pat Nash and in Chad itself by French Brigadier General Jean-Philippe Ganascia, who has expressed hope of getting the force to operational capacity by the end of March.

(ST)

Information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters

3 Comments

  • future of southen sudan
    future of southen sudan

    French peacekeeper goes missing in Sudan
    this is gonna give European that what is goin on in Darfor/sudan is a problem and they should keep their eyes open.

    Reply
  • future of southen sudan
    future of southen sudan

    French peacekeeper goes missing in Sudan
    this is gonna give European that what is goin on in Darfur/sudan is a problem and they should keep their eyes open.

    Reply
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