Rebels and militia alike have splintered into a myriad of factions patrolling their own turf in Sudan’s Darfur region

One South African peacekeeper was killed and four wounded when a convoy they were escorting came under fire in Sudan’s Darfur region, the U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission said on Monday.

The attack took place on Sunday near Mellit, in North Darfur state, and resulted in an exchange of fire, the mission said.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and called on the Sudanese authorities to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible, his spokesman said.

Darfur erupted into conflict in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels in the western region launched a campaign against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government, complaining of marginalisation.

President Omar al-Bashir unleashed a brutal counter-insurgency using Arab militia as well as regular troops.

Rebels and militia alike have since splintered into a myriad of factions patrolling their own turf.

In recent years, insecurity has deepened further with rising criminality and inter-tribal conflict over land and resources.