2 Russians kidnapped in Sudan’s Darfur freed
Two Russians kidnapped in January by an unidentified group in Sudan have been released, Russian officials say.
The two were kidnapped near the town of Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur state, on January 29, and a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Khartoum on Saturday announced their release.
“According to the information we got from the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) yesterday (Friday), they were freed in central Darfur at 7:30 p.m. (1630 GMT),” Artur Safukov said.
He added that no ransom was paid or force used to secure the abductees’ release. “It was a peaceful release,” according to NISS, Safukov said.
The men are set to arrive in Khartoum on Saturday afternoon, and are purportedly in good health.
Russian media reported that the two Russian nationals were employees of Russia’s UTair company and were in Sudan on a contract for the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
The mission was sent to the western region in 2007 in an attempt to protect civilians and secure aid to Darfur, which has been the scene of violence since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum. There has also been tribal fighting in the region.
The UN estimates that the violence in Darfur has so far killed some 300,000 people and internally displaced over two million.
MR/HSN/HMV
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