Irish, Ugandan aid workers freed by captors in Sudan’s Darfur region after more than 3 months

Irish, Ugandan aid workers freed in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Two foreign aid workers seized at gunpoint more than three months ago in Sudan’s Darfur were released Sunday by their captors in the third — and longest — kidnapping of aid workers in the arid region.

The Irish and Ugandan women were in good health and were having medical checkups at a hospital in northern Darfur, said Sudan’s state minister for humanitarian affairs, Abdel-Baqi al-Jailani.

The two women were taken hostage on July 3 in the western region of Sudan, where government forces have been battling rebels for more than six years. The Irish woman, Sharon Commins, 33, and her Ugandan colleague, Hilda Kuwuki, 42, were working for Irish humanitarian aid agency GOAL.

“Thank you for your patience. This took a long time to secure but you kept it on the agenda, discussing it as recent as this month so thank you for staying strong and keeping this issue alive for us,” said Commins in a press briefing in northern Darfur following the release.

“And we hope that humanitarian workers will continue with their good work, that the communities and everyone appreciates,” she added.

The ambassadors of Ireland and Uganda flew to northern Darfur with al-Jailani, who reiterated his government’s commiment to secure the safety of all humanitarian workers, the state news agency said.

Shortly after they were seized, al-Jailani had said the kidnappers were seeking a ransom and did not appear to have political motives, though on Saturday he told The Associated Press no ransom was paid. He gave no details on how the release came about, except to say it involved the cooperation of local and federal governments as well as tribal leaders in the region.

In Ireland, Commins’ mother, Agatha, said she was asleep when she got a call from a Sudanese government minister and then was able to speak to her daughter.

“Oh my God, we just jumped out of bed and we were absolutely overjoyed,” she said.

She said it was a short call and her daughter sounded well: “She just said, ‘Hello, Mum, I’m free,’ and ‘how is Dad and how are the boys?’”

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs declined to describe the deal that won the women’s release. It described both women as thin but in good health.

John O’Shea, the head of the humanitarian agency where the two women worked, also denied that ransom was paid to secure their release. He said the women were tired after their monthslong ordeal in which they were moved frequently, but were doing well.

“I’ve just spoken to Sharon and she’s in terrific form,” said O’Shea.

Irish ambassador to Sudan, Gerry Corr, is traveling to Darfur on Sunday.

“This is wonderful news for these women and their families,” said Irish President Mary McAleese. “They have been immensely brave and resilient and we are all deeply proud of both of them.”

It was the third kidnapping of foreign humanitarian workers in Sudan’s remote western region since March, when an international court issued an arrest warrant for the country’s president on charges of orchestrating war crimes there.

Aid organizations working in Darfur have preferred to work without security from the government or peacekeepers in the region to avoid appearing to be taking sides in the conflict, making them more vulnerable.

The series of abductions, along with Sudan’s expulsion of 13 international aid agencies in response to the arrest warrant, struck a blow to the vital aid effort in the desert region.

Fighting has declined in Darfur, but aid agencies say the humanitarian situation remains a pressing problem.

Sudan’s Arab-dominated government has been battling ethnic African rebels in Darfur since 2003. Up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million have been driven from their homes.

The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, issued a warrant for the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir on charges he orchestrated a counterinsurgency in Darfur that included atrocities committed by allied militia. He has denied the charges and ignored the warrant.

Back in Ireland, Commins’ mother, Agatha, said the family was gearing up to celebrate her daughter’s release.

“It’ll be an open door at this house for everybody through Christmas,” she said. “We will party.”

Associated Press Writer Shawn Pogatchnik contributed to this report from Dublin.