Darfur rebels hand over 14 Sudanese soldiers, Red Cross

April 13, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SPLM-MM) handed over 14 Sudanese army soldiers captured recently in Eastern Darfur, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the rebel group announced on Saturday.

The SLM-MM on 6 April captured Muhajeria and Labado towns in East Darfur . The group recently released a list of 14 soldiers, all of them from South or East Darfur states.

The spokesperson of the rebel faction Abdallah Mursal said on 10 April that all the prisoners of war (POWs) captured in the two towns will be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“Fourteen soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces were released today by the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) in Darfur, Sudan. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated their handover to the Sudanese authorities”, said humanitarian intermediary said.

“The Sudanese authorities and the SLA-MM asked us to assist in the transfer in our capacity as a neutral intermediary,” said Mustapha Ben Messaoud, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Nyala.

Mustapha accompanied the released soldiers who were taken by helicopter to Nyala, South Darfur capital, where they were delivered to the Sudanese authorities.

Last March the Red Cross facilitated the handover of 31 civilians released by the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW) in central Darfur.

(ST)