Hungary thanks Sudan for release of peacekeeper in Darfur
January 6, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — The Hungarian foreign ministry thanked Sudanese government on Thursday for its help in securing the release of a UNAMID worker kidnapped in October in the Darfur region.
Istvan Papp, 56, was kidnapped in from his residence in El-Fasher on 7 October with two other staff members by unknown gunmen. The other two members managed to escape from their moving vehicle.
His release was secured by the Sudanese authorities who transferred him on Wednesday afternoon to the capital of North Darfur state. “He appeared to be unharmed and in good health”.
Hungarian foreign minister Janos Martonyi “expressed his gratitude towards the Sudanese authorities for their efforts and their role in freeing the Hungarian hostage,” said a statement released by the ministry in Budapest.
Martonyi was informed of the release in a phone call from his Sudanese counterpart Ali Karti, the ministry said.
Papp was on his way to the Egyptian capital Cairo and was in good health, the Hungarian foreign ministry said.
Following his release the head of the UNAMID, Ibrahim Gambari, thanked the Sudanese government for its role in the release of the staff member, “We are thankful to have our colleague back with us, safe and sound.”
Generally in Darfur kidnappers are from former militiamen who kidnap foreigners asking for ransom.
Ten UNAMID personnel were kidnapped since the start of the mission in 2008, and a total of 26 foreigners have been abducted in Darfur since the indictement of the Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court.
(ST)
Kolnyang youth
Hungary thanks Sudan for release of peacekeeper in Darfur
why are you giving thank to government of Sudan ,when Sudan government have event killed 20 humanitarians works in 2009 in Dafur ?
So bashir release them ,because he is fearing issues of 20 people may be as from his government of Khartoum .
Anti-tribalism
A.T.M.P
Hungary thanks Sudan for release of peacekeeper in Darfur
There is need for Hungary to thanks government of Sudan because there is nothing good about government of Sudan. Because if government let died people in Darfur of Sudan like cows and no invastigation and we are all humans and we are the same in everything..people are dying in the village while the Government is busy doing nothing.I think Sudan will be good i see separation is win…I’m not from darfur but we are all sudanese.