Sudan: More Sudanese soldiers released in Darfur

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 17, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Four soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces released by the Sudan Liberation Army - Ali Karbino (SLA-AK) in Darfur were handed over to the Sudanese authorities today. The operation took place under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

This is the fourth transfer of released soldiers organized by the ICRC in Sudan this year. "The Sudanese authorities and the SLA-AK asked for the ICRC's assistance. We are glad that our organization is regarded as a serious and credible neutral intermediary. And we will provide logistical support for any similar operation in the future, should parties to the conflict ask for it," said the head of the ICRC's sub-delegation in Nyala, Mustapha Ben Messaoud, who led the team of ICRC delegates that accompanied the released soldiers.

The delegates first interviewed the soldiers in private, to make sure that they were not being transferred against their will. After this the soldiers were flown by helicopter to Nyala, where they were handed over to the Sudanese authorities.

The ICRC has organized the handover of 54 people in Sudan so far this year. In Darfur last week, the organization arranged for 14 soldiers released by the Sudan Liberation Army -Minni Minnawi to be handed over to the Sudanese authorities; they did the same at the end of March for 31 civilians released by the Sudan Liberation Army - Abdul Wahid.