Darfur Peace and Development

August 24, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan expects the two kidnapped females will be released during the holy month of Ramadan saying it is considering to offer legal immunity for kidnappers of two female aid workers kidnapped in Darfur.

Two women working with the Irish GOAL, Hilda Kawuki, 42, from Uganda, and Sharon Commins, 32, from Ireland were kidnapped from their compound in the North Darfur town of Kutum by six armed men on July 3.

The kidnappers have made a two million US dollar ransom demand for their release. But, the Sudanese government refused to pay it saying it would encourage them to abduct more foreign aid workers in the future.

North Darfur state humanitarian affairs minister Abdel Baqi Al-Gilani said on Monday Sudanese authorities are negotiating with the kidnappers and expecting they expect the tribal leaders of the abductors will convince them during the Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, adding it is a month of worship and forgiveness.

Speaking to Reuters the Sudanese official stressed they are ready to forgive the kidnappers who have committed the crime and discuss the possibility of legal immunity for the kidnappers.

However since last July, Sudan had pledged to kidnappers they will not face criminal charges, if they free them safely.

The state minister also dismissed as baseless a report published by the Khartoum based Al Ray Al-Aam recently saying the Irish Sharon Commins had married one of its kidnappers.

Gilani also disclosed he now knew the names of the kidnappers who are members of a nomadic tribe in north Darfur.

(ST)