Sudan says efforts going on to release Darfur aid workers

September 6, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s state minister for humanitarian affairs said today to his government continues to exert the necessary efforts to secure the release of two abducted female aid workers in Darfur.

Abdel-Baqi Al-Jailani, was speaking to the media after a meeting with the visiting Irish foreign minister Michael Martin who is here to show the concern of his country about the kidnapping of an Irish aid worker since two months in Darfur.

Sharon Commins, 32, and her colleague Ugandan Hilda Kawuki were seized at a compound run by the Irish Goal aid agency in North Darfur town of Kutum by six armed men on July 3.

The kidnappers have made a two million US dollar ransom demand for their release. But, the Sudanese authorities refused to pay it saying it would encourage abduction of more foreign aid workers in the future.

The kidnapped two aid workers alive and in good health “they are doing well and fine” said Al-Jailani. “I have just finished briefing Irish foreign minister, Mr. Michael Martin about their welling being,” he added.

The minister said he is working hard to ensure that these relief workers are released before the end of the Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.

“Because this is the time Muslims seeks forgiveness and better relationship with Allah. It is the holy month of Ramadan,” he stressed.

The Sudanese state minister said Sudan shares the concerns expressed by the Mr. Martin adding that authorities have already identified through their tribal leaders the kidnapers who currently in negotiation with government.

Asked whether the government is considering asking Irish government to pay the requested ransom for their release, he said, “our interest now is to ensure that the government gets access to where they are kept. The issue of payment is not our priority, he concluded.

He also repeated his call on the press to desist from publishing alarming reports about the two hostages as it was reported by a daily newspaper that Sharon had married one of its kidnappers.

The Irish minister, who arrived yesterday in the Sudanese capital to highlight the concern of his government over the kidnapping, met also with his Sudanese counterpart Deng Alor and the Presidential Adviser in charge with Darfur dossier Ghazi Salah Al-Deen.

Speaking to reporters in Khartoum, Martin said he wanted to express the Irish people’s concern about the abduction of the two women and his government’s willingness to help the ongoing efforts to secure their release.

Two days after the kidnapping, Dublin sent a negotiating team headed by its Ambassador in Egypt Gerard Corr to follow with the Sudanese authorities talks with kidnappers.

(ST)