UN demands safe release of abducted personnel in S. Sudan

October 20, 2014 (JUBA) – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has strongly condemned the recent abductions of its personnel in Upper Nile state, demanding their safe release.

An unidentified armed group of men reportedly seized three contractors employed by the UN working at Malakal airfield on 10 October and drove them away in a truck.

Two of abductees were released on 11 October while the other remains in detention.

Another staff of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was on 16 October reportedly seized by another group of armed men in Malakal as he boarded a UN flight and remains at large.

“UNMISS strongly condemns these abductions and demands the safe release of the missing individuals,” UNMISS said in a statement.

There is still a lack of clarity on the identity of the abductors, and various authorities and commanders have assured the mission and WFP of all efforts to track down the abductors and secure the release of the two abducted individuals.

It is the responsibility of the Government of South Sudan under the Status of Forces Agreement with the organisation to protect UN personnel “irrespective of the identity of the abductors,” the UN said.

(ST)