Statement of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) on the killing of an aid worker in Blue Nile region

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the killing of a peacebuilding adviser who has been working for the United Nations. I express my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” said Volker Perthes.

On 27 January 2023, a contractor for Addition Organization for Disaster and Development (ADD), a local NGO and UN partner, was killed and an ADD staff member was injured after their vehicle came under fire at a checkpoint.

At the time of the killing, they were on their way to carry out peacebuilding activities in Giessan as part of a UN project to support post-conflict recovery, conflict resolution and conflict prevention in Blue Nile State. “I am profoundly distressed by the loss of life of a peacebuilding adviser, who, together with the UN, was committed to building bridges between communities. Aid workers must be respected and protected,” added Mr. Perthes.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) calls on the Sudanese authorities to take swift action to identify the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice. He reaffirms that such acts will not diminish the resolve of the United Nations to continue supporting the people and the Government of Sudan in their quest for peace and stability.