Khartoum says Juba’s military intelligence was holding its embassy staffer

May 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government accused its southern neighbor’s military intelligence of holding a local embassy staffer in Juba who has gone missing last week.

South Sudanese ambassador in Khartoum Mayan Dut Waal was summoned by the foreign ministry to express Sudan’s discontent with not being informed on the staffer being held by Juba’s authorities.

The ministry demanded the immediate release of the unnamed worker who left office last Friday after telling his colleagues that he was going to visit a relative in a Juba suburb.

It stressed that the staffer, who is a South Sudanese national, has not committed any violation of the law warranting his arrest.

Sudan said that the worker served as a guard and was also helping in the delivery of correspondence between different units at the embassy.

Ambassador Waal was quoted by Sudan news agency (SUNA) as saying that following communications with Juba it is expected that the staffer will be released in the coming hours.

The diplomat did not explain why the worker was being held.

(ST)