Negotiations with Darfur kidnappers progressing well – Sudan
July 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The two abducted female aid workers are in good health as the contacts with their kidnappers are progressing well, a Sudanese official said today.
The aid workers for Irish NGO, GOAl, one from Ireland and the other from Uganda abducted by unidentified group from their compound in Kutum, North Darfur state since Friday July 3.
During the first week, Sudan and the aid group said they had no news about their whereabouts and the identity of the kidnappers. The Ireland dispatched a team of negotiators as Uganda rejected to deal with the ransom demand.
“Let us hope we will secure their release, but we were assured about their safety and well being. And yes, they are in good health,” said state minister for humanitarian affairs Abdel Baqi Al-Jailani.
Al-Jailani further said the two aid workers are in contact with GOAL office in the capital of North Darfur El-Fasher every day.
He stressed the Sudanese government commitment to secure their release through a peaceful and negotiated solution.
“The government is committed to a peaceful solution and is giving the kidnappers a lot of time. I am sure it will work, based on our past experience.”
Sudan earlier this week denied political motivations behind the abduction and described the kidnappers as “bandits” seeking to get a ransom.
Since the arrest warrant by the war crimes court, International Criminal Court for the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir, the humanitarian organizations working in Darfur are facing increasing hostility.
A group of five aid workers from MSF-Belgium had been kidnapped days after the issuance of the arrest warrant followed by two others aid workers from Aide Médicale Internationale.
Aid groups working in conflict zones prefer to circulate without protection to avoid appearing as taking sides. The governor of North Darfur state last week warned the NGOs on the need to accept to be protected by government troops.
Since the eviction of 13 aid groups in Darfur, the humanitarian situation in the troubled region is getting worse. The IDPs complain from caps in water and heath care.
(ST)