Gunmen abduct two peacekeepers in West Darfur

August 29, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Two international staffers working with the hybrid peacekeeping mission were kidnapped on Saturday by a group of gunmen in West Darfur for the first time.

The incident occurred in Zalingei, 100 klm southeast of El-Geneina the capital of West Darfur state, at about 04.30 hours and the two staff members, one woman and one man, were taken at gunpoint by four or five gunmen from their residence to an unknown destination, said the UNAMID.

UNAMID spokesperson said the kidnapper had contacted the peacekeeping mission and asked for ransom but he declined to identify them or to give further details.

The head of the UNAMID Rodolphe Adada has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the captives, urging their abductors to return them unharmed.

The Sudanese authorities assured the mission they are taking the necessary measures to secure their release.

The responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of UN staff members in Sudan rests with the Sudanese Government.

The military personnel of the mission had been targeted in the past by armed men but this is the first time UNAMID civilian staffers are abducted.

The peacekeeping mission withheld the identity of the seized staffers but Sudanese state minister for humanitarian affairs, Abdel Baqi Al-Jailani told Reuters the kidnap victims were a Nigerian man and a Tanzanian woman.

(ST)