Chinese worker freed in Sudan after brief abduction: embassy

November 27, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – A Chinese oil worker who was kidnapped in Sudan’s state of South Kordofan on Friday was released today, according to the Chinese embassy in Khartoum.

The independent Al-Sahafa daily said in its Saturday edition that the abduction was carried out by disgruntled members of Heiban tribe who wanted to have more employment opportunities for them in the oil projects.

The tribesmen were also reportedly were dissatisfied with lack of developmental projects in their region.

On Saturday, an official in the Chinese embassy told Xinhua news agency that Sudanese authorities secured the release of the worker but no details were provided on the process and whether a ransom was paid.

Abductions in Sudan are made mostly by young men from Arab tribes who demand ransoms. Khartoum has yet to prosecute any kidnappers and reports of ransoms being paid in the past have fueled the crimes.

The abductions have targeted foreign aid workers and U.N.-African Union (UNAMID) peacekeepers since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir last year.

In 2008, gunmen abducted nine Chinese oil workers from South Kordofan and later killed four after what China said was a failed rescue attempt.

(ST)