UN contractor released in Darfur after 94 days

13/06/2014 14:14

An abducted Indian man working for the peacekeeping mission in Darfur (Unamid), was freed on Thursday in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, after 94 days in captivity. Radio Dabanga reported in March that the Indian Irfan Jaffery was taken from a place nearby the Unamid base in El Fasher on 11 March at broad daylight. He went for shopping together with a colleague who managed to escape. They are believed to be kidnapped by a militia, armed by the government and controlled by Musa Hilal, who announced at that time his own administration independently from the official authorities. The Sudan authorities deny that they have paid a ransom for the release of the Indian contractor. Jaffery is brought to the Unamid hospital in El Fasher for medical checks. Accoridng to Unamid, he appears to be unharmed and in good health. He will be flown to Khartoum and back to his home country as soon as possible.Unamid expressed in a statement it’s “gratitude to the Government of Sudan, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services, the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur, and the Government of India for their valuable assistance in the safe release”.News photo: The Indian contractor working for Unamid, Irfan Jaffery, released in Darfur after 94 days in captivity. He is welcomed by the Unamid police commissioner, Ms. Hester Paneras, and some other Mission’s senior staff members at El Fasher airport. (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid)

An abducted Indian man working for the peacekeeping mission in Darfur (Unamid), was freed on Thursday in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, after 94 days in captivity.

Radio Dabanga reported in March that the Indian Irfan Jaffery was taken from a place nearby the Unamid base in El Fasher on 11 March at broad daylight. He went for shopping together with a colleague who managed to escape.

They are believed to be kidnapped by a militia, armed by the government and controlled by Musa Hilal, who announced at that time his own administration independently from the official authorities. The Sudan authorities deny that they have paid a ransom for the release of the Indian contractor.

Jaffery is brought to the Unamid hospital in El Fasher for medical checks. Accoridng to Unamid, he appears to be unharmed and in good health. He will be flown to Khartoum and back to his home country as soon as possible.

Unamid expressed in a statement it’s “gratitude to the Government of Sudan, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services, the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur, and the Government of India for their valuable assistance in the safe release”.

News photo: The Indian contractor working for Unamid, Irfan Jaffery, released in Darfur after 94 days in captivity. He is welcomed by the Unamid police commissioner, Ms. Hester Paneras, and some other Mission’s senior staff members at El Fasher airport. (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid)