African peacekeepers searched for more than 20 members of their force still missing and feared wandering the wilderness of Darfur on Monday after rebels overran their base in an unprecedented attack that stunned the international force.
The attack Sunday on the Haskanita base in northern Darfur illustrated the region’s chaos ahead of peace talks later this month — and the dangers that could face a bigger UN force due to start deploying in coming weeks.
A Nigerian army spokesman said the deadliest attack on peacekeepers in Darfur could prompt his country — which leads the current mission — to reconsider its commitment to trying to calm the continent’s hot spots.
The U.S. condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be held accountable. State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters that “there is no reason for any forces, whether they are aligned with the government or the rebels, to be attacking AU peacekeepers.”
In Sunday’s attack, around 1,000 well-armed rebel gunmen overwhelmed the small Haskanita base of about 150 troops before dawn after hours of fighting, during which some of the African soldiers ran out of ammunition. The battle killed at least 10 peacekeepers.
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At a glance
Darfur rebels have grown increasingly hostile to the struggling 7,000-member African Union force, saying it favors the government and has failed to protect Darfur civilians. The AU denies any favoritism and has often complained its forces are overstretched and undersupplied. But the attack by the rebels and the rescue by the Sudanese military raises fears for a future UN force.
