ICRC: 7 Sudanese soldiers handed over to Sudanese authorities

Seven soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces released in Darfur by the Sudan Liberation Army – Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) were handed over to the Sudanese authorities on Sunday.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover. Two of the soldiers were injured. “Our team included medical personnel, and assessed the condition of their injuries to make sure they could be transported,” explained Jean-Christophe Sandoz, the ICRC head of delegation in Sudan. The seven travelled by helicopter to the capital of North Darfur, El Fasher, where they were handed over to the Sudanese authorities. The ICRC has participated in numerous handovers since the beginning of the year, including the repatriation of South Sudanese prisoners of war released by the Sudanese government, and of Sudanese soldiers and civilians released by armed opposition groups in Darfur. For its part, the leadership of the SLA-MM confirmed the release of the seven soldiers in the area of Sarfaya in North Darfur.Speaking to Radio Dabanga from the field, Adam Saleh Abkar, the movement’s spokesman, said that the seven prisoners, including the two injured, were released and handed over to the Sudanese authorities.