Two UNAMID soldiers abducted in N Darfur

Radio Dabanga was informed that two UNAMID soldiers were kidnapped by an armed group from inside a market in Kabkabiya town, North Darfur, on Monday evening. Witnesses said the soldiers and their vehicles were taken to an unknown location. A witness told Radio Dabanga he believes the gunmen, who were masked and wearing military uniform, belong to a pro-government militia. He said the UNAMID soldiers were forced to board one of the two vehicles the militia was driving at gunpoint. According to onlookers, Sudanese military forces cordoned the Khor Jim neighborhood, adjacent to the market and located south of the city. They claim this led to panic amongst the neighborhood’s residents who fear a possible confrontation between the Sudanese military forces and the kidnappers. Christopher Cycmanick, UNAMID’s spokesman, told Radio Dabanga that the mission is not able to confirm nor deny the abductions and that he is still looking for more information about the events on UNAMID’s reports. Radio Dabanga did not receive any confirmation about the abductions by the news’ closing time.