Thirty-one civilians seized at gunpoint in Darfur by the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdel Wahid (SLA-AW) on March 24 were released, the Red Cross announced on Saturday.
The civilians were arrested while travelling under the escort of UN peacekeepers from Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur state to Nyala, capital of South Darfur state, to attend a conference for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The group’s handover to Sudanese authorities was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
In a statement, the organisation said its personnel accompanied the group, who were flown by helicopter to Zalingei, where they were met by Sudanese authorities.
No further details were provided about the operation, which had been due to take place on Friday before being postponed due to “technical reasons”.
According to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the civilians were captured after a convoy they were travelling in was ambushed by armed men wearing military uniforms in seven jeeps with mounted guns.
Those abducted, who all came from the Wadi Saleh region in West Darfur, were reportedly taken to an unknown location in Jebel Marra.
Rebel leader Abdel Wahid Mohammed Al-Nur later confirmed his group was responsible for the attack.
Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Friday, SLA-AW military spokesman Mustapha Tambour reiterated claims that the captives were security agents affiliated with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) who had been posing as IDPs.
There has been no official comment from either UNAMID or Sudanese authorities in response to the claims.
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