JEM releases UNAMID soldiers, keeps ‘Sudanese security agents’

The Justice and Equality Movement has released the 49 UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) soldiers detained yesterday in the Shagig Kuro area in West Darfur. JEM’s spokesman Gibril Adam Bilal told Radio Dabanga the 49 UNAMID soldiers were captured along with three suspected Sudanese security agents as they failed to notify JEM in advance that they were entering the area controlled by the rebel movement. He said they released the UNAMID soldiers but are still holding the Sudanese citizens as they are suspected to be working for the security services. Bilal said UNAMID’s head of mission Ibrahim Gambari reneged on an earlier agreement signed with the movement, to notify them in advance when UNAMID forces move into the area, as the Sudanese government is also expected to do. Deputy spokesperson for UNAMID, Susan Manuel said to Radio Dabanga that the troops mainly from Senegal had been on patrol in north west Darfur, 60 kilometres north of Um Baru, when they were stopped by people claiming to belong to JEM. She said JEM have now allowed them to go, but the soldiers are staying in the area as they are concerned about the three civilians, two of which are Sudanese, and one from Yemen.