Release of 11 Sudanese abducted in North Darfur

January 26, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese authorities announced the release of 11workers abducted with four other Chinese workers in North Darfur on 12 January.

The government accused unidentified rebel group of abducting the 15 workers who were building El Fasher – Umm Kadada sector of Al-Ingaz Road near Khor Abeche area in North Darfur

The Sudanese engineer and 10 workers were released in good health at Al-Kuma, near Zam Zam village, located 17 kilometers south-west North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher.

The commissioner of Alkuma, Mohamed Suleiman Rabeh, who received the abductees, has pointed to the efforts North Darfur government had exerted to release the 4 Chinese and then the 11 Sudanese.

The families of the Sudanese workers urged the Sudanese authorities last week to ensure the release of their sons and wondered why only the Chinese had been freed.

The four Chinese had been release four days after their abduction and were handed to the UNAMOD peacekeepers on Wednesday 16 January.

Sudanese officials did not disclose the identity of the abductors and remained silent on the negotiations that led to a peaceful end of the kidnapping.

Since, the local authorities announced a series of measures to protect the workers of the Chinese companies working in the troubled state.

North Darfur State has witnessed unrest and a wave of tribal conflicts and clashes between the armed movements and the government forces.

(ST)