Five healthcare workers abducted in Sudan’s South Kordofan

March 10, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Gunmen abducted five healthcare workers of the South Kordofan State while vaccinating children against measles in the SPLM-N held locality of Abu Kershola, the governor said on Sunday.

The health personnel, including two women, were taken to an unknown location.

“The staff members of the State Ministry of Health participating in the unified immunization programme were taken to an unknown destination by an armed force,” Governor Musa Jabr told the Sudan Tribune.

Governor Jabr further condemned the abduction and called for the immediate release of the staff members stressing the humanitarian nature of their activity.

“They were not carrying arms but conducting humanitarian work for civilians in those areas,” he said before calling on international organizations operating in the State to intervene to ensure the release of the abductees.

The Sudanese authorities in the South Kordofan believe that the armed men are members of the holdout SPLM-N under the leadership of Abdel Aziz al-Hilu.

The Sudan Tribune cannot verify these accusations.

Until the fall of the former regime, the al-Bashir government and the SPLM-N impeded the humanitarian activities in South Kordofan.

The SPLM-N showed concerns about the humanitarian assistance or aid workers crossing from government-held areas into SPLM-N-controlled areas.

Sudanese transitional authorities have authorized aid groups to work in the SPLM-N held areas.

The kidnapping of the healthcare personnel occurred seven days ago. Also, the two abducted women are sisters.

South Sudan brokered peace talks between the government and the SPLM-N have been suspended since last year.

However, the two parties remain committed to the unilateral cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan declared after the collapse of the al-Bashir regime.

(ST)