SLA-AW hostages arrive safely in Zalingei, C Darfur
A number of 31 SLA-AW captives returned to the city of Zalingei in Central Darfur on Saturday with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after spending almost a week in custody of the rebel group, Sudan Liberation Army led by Abdel Wahid al Nur in Jebel Marra.
Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Zalingei, one of the hostages named Omda Khalil Khamees Suleiman said that the rebel troops initially assumed they were affiliated to the National Congress Party (NCP) and the government and that their release was arranged after the rebels realized “we are innocent displaced people and are in no way affiliated to the NCP or the government”.
Omda Khalil added that the rebel troops questioned them about their trip to Nyala and participation in a conference for displaced and refugees, and they explained that they were going to Nyala to take part in the conference and were carrying letters with details of the continuous harassment they were facing in their residential areas and were planning to present these letters at the conference.
Omda Khalil also strongly criticized UNAMID troops who escorted them on their trip. According to Omda Khalil, UNAMID troops handed them over “without any resistance” and said “they are immoral; all they did was raise their hands in the air, after which they handed us over”. He thanked the ICRC for assisting in their release and for the transport to Zalingei by helicopter. The omda demanded (through Radio Dabanga) to find strong guarantees for delivering them safely to their families in the areas of Bindisi, Mukjar, Garsila, Deleig and Umm Khair.
Yousef Abdel Khaleq, another hostage from Garsila, said in an interview with Radio Dabanga that they were on their way to Nyala in three buses and that two of the buses broke down in Jebel, forcing them to continue their trip in one bus until they arrived at the camps of the rebel group. Yousef confirmed he is a displaced from Garsila and denied any affiliation between himself, the other hostages and the NCP or security apparatus. He expressed his gratitude to the ICRC and all other parties who assisted in their release and facilitated their safe arrival in Zalingei.
25 March 2013 Participants of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees Conference enter to the Koral Hotel in Nyala, South Darfur. Photo by Albert González Farran – UNAMID
Related: Central Darfur government, Red Cross confirm release of 31 SLA-AW captives (30 March 2013)
A number of 31 SLA-AW captives returned to the city of Zalingei in Central Darfur on Saturday with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after spending almost a week in custody of the rebel group, Sudan Liberation Army led by Abdel Wahid al Nur in Jebel Marra.
Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Zalingei, one of the hostages named Omda Khalil Khamees Suleiman said that the rebel troops initially assumed they were affiliated to the National Congress Party (NCP) and the government and that their release was arranged after the rebels realized “we are innocent displaced people and are in no way affiliated to the NCP or the government”.
Omda Khalil added that the rebel troops questioned them about their trip to Nyala and participation in a conference for displaced and refugees, and they explained that they were going to Nyala to take part in the conference and were carrying letters with details of the continuous harassment they were facing in their residential areas and were planning to present these letters at the conference.
Omda Khalil also strongly criticized UNAMID troops who escorted them on their trip. According to Omda Khalil, UNAMID troops handed them over “without any resistance” and said “they are immoral; all they did was raise their hands in the air, after which they handed us over”. He thanked the ICRC for assisting in their release and for the transport to Zalingei by helicopter. The omda demanded (through Radio Dabanga) to find strong guarantees for delivering them safely to their families in the areas of Bindisi, Mukjar, Garsila, Deleig and Umm Khair.
Yousef Abdel Khaleq, another hostage from Garsila, said in an interview with Radio Dabanga that they were on their way to Nyala in three buses and that two of the buses broke down in Jebel, forcing them to continue their trip in one bus until they arrived at the camps of the rebel group. Yousef confirmed he is a displaced from Garsila and denied any affiliation between himself, the other hostages and the NCP or security apparatus. He expressed his gratitude to the ICRC and all other parties who assisted in their release and facilitated their safe arrival in Zalingei.
25 March 2013 Participants of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees Conference enter to the Koral Hotel in Nyala, South Darfur.
Photo by Albert González Farran – UNAMID
Related: Central Darfur government, Red Cross confirm release of 31 SLA-AW captives (30 March 2013)
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