Everyday terror in Khartoum, the hundreds of notices of missing people are just appalling “M. 14, went out to buy bread on the morning of May 17 and has never been seen since…” #Sudan pic.twitter.com/zEysOMDrvq
— Sarra Majdoub (@SarraMajd) May 27, 2023
Looking for a family member? Here's how to get help, call ICRC:
هل تبحث عن أحد أفراد عائلتك؟ إليكم طريقة الحصول على المساعدة #السودان pic.twitter.com/C5QNF0XXrQ
— ICRC Sudan (@ICRC_Sudan) May 7, 2023
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NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Yellow highlighting in these reports is mine. Also, a report I have added below shows the United Kingdom is the penholder on Sudan; The US is the penholder on South Sudan, Sudan/South Sudan, Sudan sanctions and South Sudan Sanctions (Source here and here).
Here is a general summary of the BBC's live reporting on Sudan today:
Witnesses say ceasefire broken within minutes
Soldiers loot homes in Sudan capital, say witnesses
Aid workers attacked and sexually abused, says UN
Sudan health system at risk of collapse - aid group
Humanitarians are trapped by fighting - MSF
US speaks to Sudan's rival generals
State-owned radio still off air in Sudan
US diplomatic convoy attacked in Sudan - Blinken
Here is a photo taken in Sudan of people leaving the capital in search of safety.
Read the above reports here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-64393826
Here is a full copy of one of the reports:
10:46
State-owned radio still off air in Sudan
BBC Monitoring
The world through its media
The state-owned Sudan Radio - also known as Radio Omdurman - has remained silent since Saturday.
It is unclear why, as this station broadcasts and operates from the same premises as the state TV channel, which resumed broadcasts on Monday morning having been off air for more than 20 hours.
Reels of patriotic music and footage of the army's victories have been played on TV, and in a statement on Facebook the Sudanese army said it had retaken control of the TV premises from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
State TV also aired a statement by the RSF's spokesman, Naj al-Din Ismael, saying he had defected from the paramilitary group and joined the national army.
Journalists in Sudan have told the BBC as fighting continues there is also a propaganda war between the rival factions of the military, which is largely being fought on social media.
View original here:
_________________________________________________________
Here is a full copy of a report from BBC News online
By Mohamed Osman & Cecilia Macaulay
BBC News, In Khartoum & London
Published Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:24 GMT BST UK
Sudan fighting continues despite ceasefire
Combat around the army HQ goes on as residents hoped for a 24-hour respite to get food and water.
A fourth day of fighting raged as residents remained trapped in their homes
Fighting is continuing in areas of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, despite a ceasefire due to start at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
In particular the battle has not stopped around the army headquarters, which is in the city centre and is surrounded by residential areas.
Two rival generals at the heart of the conflict had agreed to a 24-hour humanitarian pause to allow civilians to get medical help and supplies.
Residents are low on food and water.
Earlier on Tuesday, a woman living in Khartoum told the BBC that she has no more drinking water left in her home: "This morning we ran out."
Duaa Tariq said only one bottle remained, which was exclusively for her two-year-old child, as her family crammed into a "tiny corridor" to avoid gunfire.
"Most of the people [that] died, died in their houses with random bullets and missiles, so it's better to avoid exposed places in the house" like windows, Ms Tariq said.
Nearly 200 people have been killed in the fighting so far.
Half an hour before the ceasefire was due to start, Khartoum residents were shocked to hear that three children - brothers living in the east of the city - had been killed in a bombardment.
Residents broke their Muslim Ramadan fast just after 18:00 local time to the sound of gunfire, with eyewitnesses in Bahri, in the north of the city, saying aircraft were flying overhead.
Another woman in Khartoum told the BBC that heavy weapons fire continued well after the ceasefire was due to come into effect. She described how earlier in the day she had escaped with her one-year-old child from her home as it was being struck by missiles.
Even if the fighting does die down in the next 24 hours, it is unlikely to be enough time for civilians to seek help, with the Red Cross saying the health system is on the verge of collapse.
The aid group said it has been receiving multiple calls for help from people trapped in their homes in a city that has an estimated population of 10 million residents, with most struggling to cope without electricity.
Fighting has also been taking place elsewhere in Sudan, including in Darfur to the west.
The UN aid chief has warned of reports that say humanitarian workers are being attacked and sexually assaulted.
"This is unacceptable and must stop," Mr Griffith's tweeted, after the time the ceasefire was expected to have been implemented.
The fighting is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, a notorious paramilitary force commanded by Sudan's deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.
View original including BBC's map showing fighting at key locations in Khartoum city centre and update at 22:19 re-titled 'Hopes crumble for a pause in fighting in Sudan'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65317693
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Here is a full copy of a report from What's In Blue
Insights on the work of the UN Security Council
Published Monday 17 April 2023.
Sudan: Meeting under “Any Other Business”
Today (17 April), following the closed consultations on Yemen, Security Council members will discuss the situation in Sudan under “any other business”, at the request of the UK (the penholder on the file). Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes is expected to brief.
Perthes is expected to update Council members on the latest developments in Sudan after fighting erupted in the morning of 15 April in and around Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s military leader and Chairperson of the Transitional Sovereign Council, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council. According to local media reports, fighting initially erupted in the Soba suburb, south of Khartoum, and then spread to several strategic areas in the capital, including Sudan’s presidential palace, the headquarters of the state television, Khartoum International Airport, and the military’s headquarters.
Multiple media outlets have reported that fighting has continued for the third day today (17 April) between the SAF and RSF in Khartoum and other parts of the country. At the time of writing, the hostilities had reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 74 civilians and more than 600 injuries. Three World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian aid workers also lost their lives as a result of the fighting.
The fighting follows months of rising tensions between the SAF and RSF. The two factions had formerly cooperated closely; the RSF participated in the 2019 coup d’état that ousted former President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. After the 2019 coup, Dagalo became the deputy of the Transitional Military Council, which then transferred its powers to the Transitional Sovereign Council. The RSF then also participated in the October 2021 coup, following which the Transitional Sovereign Council seized power.
The tensions between al-Burhan and Dagalo came to a head several weeks ago, owing to disagreements over the final agreement on a political transition, including on key security and military reforms. On 5 December 2022, a broad grouping of Sudan’s civilian political actors and its military leadership signed the Sudan Political Framework Agreement, which is aimed at paving the way for a two-year, civilian-led transition ahead of elections. On 8 January, its signatories launched the final phase of talks aimed at reaching a “final and just” political settlement under the facilitation of the Trilateral Mechanism—comprised of the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and UNITAMS. (For background, see our 19 March What’s in Blue story.) The sides were initially expected to sign the final agreement on 1 April, but this was postponed to 6 April.
Afterwards, the signing was postponed indefinitely because of disagreement between Dagalo and al-Burhan over the reintegration of the RSF into the armed forces and their command and control, according to local media reports. In an 8 April statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that Sudan remains at a “decisive juncture” and that “all efforts must now go to get the political transition back on the right path”. He urged all parties to overcome obstacles on security sector reform and avoid any delays in the signing of the political agreement.
Last week, the SAF began deploying troops inside Khartoum and Merowe town in Northern State. In a 13 April statement, SAF Spokesperson Nabil Abdallah said that the deployment of RSF forces had been done without the approval or coordination of the armed forces and may lead to the collapse of security in the country.
On 15 April, Security Council members issued a press statement expressing deep concern over the clashes between the SAF and RSF and the resulting deaths and injuries. They urged the parties to cease hostilities, to restore calm, and to pursue dialogue in order to resolve the ongoing crisis in the country. Council members stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian access and ensuring the safety of UN personnel. The statement reaffirmed Council members’ commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Sudan.
On 15 April, Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement that strongly condemned the outbreak of fighting between the SAF and RSF in Sudan. He called on SAF and RSF leaders to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm, and initiate a dialogue to resolve the current crisis in the country. The statement further noted that Guterres is engaging with leaders in the region and called on regional countries to support efforts to restore order and return to the path of transition.
On 16 April, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) met to consider the situation in Sudan. In a communiqué adopted following the meeting, the AUPSC strongly condemned the ongoing armed confrontation between the SAF and RSF throughout Sudan. The AUPSC called on both sides to commit to an immediate ceasefire without conditions, to protect civilians, and to provide humanitarian support to civilians. It urged regional countries and other stakeholders to support ongoing efforts to return the country to the transition process aimed at restoring constitutional order. The AUPSC further decided that it will undertake a “field mission” to Sudan to engage with all Sudanese stakeholders on the situation in the country. It requested the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to continue using his good offices to engage with the parties to facilitate dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan.
On 16 April, the IGAD Summit of Heads of State and Government convened for an extraordinary emergency session to discuss the situation in Sudan. During the meeting, IGAD decided to send South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Sudan “at the earliest possible time” to “reconcile the conflicting groups”.
On 16 April, the SAF and RSF agreed to a proposal, advanced by Perthes and the Trilateral Mechanism, to commit to a three-hour temporary pause in fighting on humanitarian grounds, ending mid-day on 16 April. Media outlets reported that despite the agreement on a pause, heavy fire was heard in central Khartoum.
In a 16 April statement, Guterres condemned the deaths and injuries of civilians and called for those responsible to be held accountable. The statement further noted that the UN and other humanitarian premises had been hit by projectiles and looted in several locations in Darfur. Following the deaths of the WFP workers, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain issued a statement demanding immediate steps to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers in the country. She noted that, in a separate incident, one WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) aircraft was significantly damaged at Khartoum International Airport during an exchange of gunfire on 15 April. She said that the WFP was halting all its operations in Sudan while the security situation is being reviewed.
View original here:
About What's In Blue |
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12 May 2010 (Khartoum) – The International Red Cross Committee (IRC) has threatened to suspend its activities in three states of Darfur.JEM Withdraws From Doha Talks And Renegades On Agreement
The IRC representative in Sudan, Saleh Dabaka, told SRS on Tuesday in Khartoum that the IRC will cease providing health services in Darfur unless the conflicting parties stop targeting its staff.
[Saleh Dabaka]: “Following the kidnappings which took place in October and November of last year, the IRC suspended all its activities in Darfur due to the danger represented by the arrests, kidnapping and detention of two of our international staff. If the IRC is not guaranteed security by all the parties participating in the conflict, we won’t continue doing our work, because we don’t want to subject our staff to any danger which may affect their lives or our work.”
Dabaka added that the IRC’s work has been reduced in parts of southern Darfur and other areas due to clashes between government troops and anti-government groups.
The IRC’s representative in Sudan, Saleh Dabaka, was speaking to SRS in Khartoum on Tuesday.
12 May 2010 (Nairobi) – The Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement, has announced its total withdrawal from the two agreements signed between JEM and the Government of National Unity.Sudan Unfazed by Rebel Threats
JEM and GONU signed a goodwill agreement last year and a framework agreement this year in Qatar.
The head of JEM’s negotiating team, Ahmed Togud Lisan, said that they have reached a deadlock in the two agreements. He threatened that JEM is prepared to attack government forces in Darfur.
He spoke to SRS from Doha on Tuesday.
[Ahmed Togud Lisan]: “Following the goodwill agreement, the government clearly does not have any intention of achieving peace. The framework agreement doesn’t exist and has no effect on the ground. This shows that there is no kind of agreement between the government and JEM, regardless of any procedures carried out before. We are not committed to it anymore and we don’t care about any agreement with the Sudanese government. It’s because of the Sudanese government that we reached this decision to suspend the negotiations and all communication. Therefore JEM will continue attacking the government in any position.”
The spokesperson for SAF, Lieutenant-Colonel Al-Sawarmi Khalid, said that SAF is ready to retaliate if JEM strikes.
[Al-Sawarmi Khalid]: “If JEM does not follow the agreement then they will be regarded as abandoning the agreement. On the other hand, we are completely ready to retaliate at any time and any place where they may try to attack SAF or civilians. They have not attacked any SAF positions, but only small villages where they loot markets. We have already welcomed the agreement and we hope it will move forward. We hope JEM will be completely committed with what is stipulated in the framework agreement and continue the negotiations, already the negotiation is continuing with the rest of the other movements, but we hope JEM will retreat from this position and join others in Doha.”
The Sudanese government announced on Tuesday that they would stop peace negotiations with JEM because JEM does not respect the framework agreement.
A leading member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) says President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir’s government will not kowtow (submit) to threats of all-out war issued by the Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel group.GONU Justice Minister Calls on Interpol to Arrest Khalil Ibrahim
Rabie Abdulatti Obeid said the government has asked the international police agency Interpol to arrest rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim after he refused to abide by a recent ceasefire agreement.
“The warrant of arrest that was issued by the minister of justice of the government of national unity mentioned that Dr. Khalil Ibrahim and his movement committed a lot of crimes in Darfur, as well as the crimes that were committed during the invasion of Omdurman,” he said. [...]
The JEM rebel group threatened an all-out war if their leader, who is believed to be hiding in neighboring Egypt, is arrested.
But, Abdulatti said the government is unfazed by the rebel threats.
“I don’t think that the statement will threaten the government of Sudan as this movement has no capacity to defeat the government’s military. And, even in Darfur, I think that the people of Darfur they hate the Justice and Equality Movement and are not in a position to accept that violation committed against civilians in Darfur,” Abdulatti said.
12 May 2010 (Nairobi) – The Sudanese minister of justice, Abdulbasit Sabdarat, has requested Interpol to arrest the leader of the Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement.Peacekeepers warn of Darfur rebel, Sudan army build-up
He requests that Dr. Khalil Ibrahim be handed over to the Sudanese authorities for attack on Omdurman in May 2008.
The head of the JEM negotiation team, Ahmed Togud Lisan, said that they are not scared by the government statements.
[Ahmed Togud Lisan]: “These statements were made for political purposes. It isn’t related to legal procedure. For that reason, they are just trying to increase the psychological pressure on the movement and its leadership by launching statements which exhibit the childhood and adolescence of the ministry. The movement attacked Omdurman and will continuing attacking Omdurman several times if this case is not resolved. We are not paying any attention to statements by Sabdarat. These statements just show the Sudanese government’s inability to face JEM politically and militarily - it has lost touch with reality.”
Ahmed Togud was speaking to SRS from Doha on Tuesday.
* Security deteriorates after peace talk stalemateHundreds flee Sudan army, Darfur rebel buildup
* Separate tribal clashes killed 107 since March
12 May 2010 (Khartoum) - Peacekeepers have warned of a build-up of Sudanese army and rebel troops near a strategic town in Dafur, where the security situation has deteriorated after peace talks between the government and rebels stalled.
Separately, long running tribal rivalries in the remote western region had led to clashes, killing 107 people since March, they said.
"The security situation in North Darfur is tense following reports of an increase in the presence of government troops and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces in the Shangil Tobay region," the joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force said in a statement published late on Tuesday.
JEM was one of two rebel forces that launched a revolt against Sudan's government in 2003, accusing it of starving Darfur of funding and marginalising its population.
Sudan's president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who mobilised militias to crush the uprising, is facing International Criminal Court charges of masterminding war crimes in the region.
Two international sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were signs JEM was moving south east through Darfur towards the neighbouring oil-producing region of South Kordofan, where JEM has claimed support in the past.
UNAMID said it was monitoring the situation and called on both sides to avoid "further acts of violence".
Shangil Tobay is a settlement 70km (43 miles) south of the capital of North Darfur El Fasher, a government stronghold and hub for aid workers and peacekeepers. The area sits between JEM's current stronghold in West Darfur and South Kordofan.
No one was immediately available from Sudan's army or JEM to confirm the reports of the build-up.
Khartoum has accused JEM of attacking villages in West and North Darfur states in recent weeks to expand its territory.
Both sides signed a ceasefire and initial peace deal in February but talks soon reached stalemate.
UNAMID said fighting broke out between the rival Misseriya and Rizeigat Nawaiba tribes in West Darfur in March.
The U.N. said it appeared a violent incident had sparked a cycle of revenge attacks.
"It is spiralling retribution over a killing... the retaliation just cycles out of control," said Samuel Hendricks, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
He said rivalries had been exacerbated by competition for pasture, water and other resources.
An initial settlement broke down last week when new fighting broke out in the Mukjar region of West Darfur, said UNAMID.
"It is estimated that since March, the clashes have claimed the lives of 107 people on both sides and have caused many more to flee their homes," it added.
UNAMID said it had reports government troops and forces from the insurgent Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had been massing in North Darfur state's Shangil Tobay area.News from SRS (Sudan Radio Service)
"Approximately 70 percent of (people) living in the New Shangil Tobay Camp have left fearing clashes," it said in a statement. UNAMID said 2,000 people lived in the camp.
Sudan on Thursday dismissed reports by UNAMID peacekeepers that there has been build-up of Sudanese army and rebel troops in the troubled Darfur region.
The spokesman for the Sudanese armed forces said the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has no power to mobilise in the area.
“The UNAMID warning is an unjustified exaggeration of the power of (JEM),” said Alsoarmi Khaled Saad in a statement.
The joint United Nations/African Union peacekeeping mission had warned of a build-up of Sudanese army and rebel troops near Shangil Tobayi, a strategic town in North Darfur.
The security situation in the area has deteriorated after peace talks between the government and rebels stalled.
According to the mission, long running tribal clashes in the remote western region have killed 107 people since March.
“The security situation in North Darfur is tense following reports of an increase in the presence of government troops and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces in the Shangil Tobay region,” UNAMID said in a statement on Tuesday.
Dismissing the warning, the armed forces spokesman termed the reports by the mission inaccurate.
For many Sudanese, taking part in an election was almost like a reverie. Most of them had never been to the polls before. It is a learning experience, even for the leaders vying for electoral seats. The expectations of the 16 million registered voters, neighbouring countries and the international communities are high for Sudan's first multi party elections. If peaceful and successful, these will bring a nation ravaged by a quarter of a century of conflict closer to becoming a democracy.
Preparedness
Tensions, especially in the country's South have been high for months. The Sudanese Red Crescent, together with Movement partners, has been developing and putting into place contingency plans in the event of violence and civil unrest.
With authorities and humanitarian organizations recognizing that the risk for electoral skirmishes between supporters of various political groups was high in 14 states of Sudan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) disbursed 394,035 Swiss francs (366,708 US dollar or 269,170 euro) from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Sudanese Red Crescent's election contingency planning and training scheme.
Close to 40,000 volunteers mainly in the high risk areas such as Jonglei, Blue Nile and Kordofan have received refresher training in emergency first aid as well as offering psychological support. They are on stand by for deployment in the event of civil unrest and election related violence.
Emergency communication equipment
One of the crucial elements of the Red Crescent's plan is having efficient emergency communication equipment installed and functioning. As the leading indigenous emergency response agency throughout Sudan, the Red Crescent has been requested to coordinate communication at national and state levels.
Sudan is the largest country of Africa measuring almost four times the size of France. Sharing of information between the headquarters of the Red Crescent in Khartoum and branches across a surface of more than 2.5 million square kilometres is a challenge but also the key to ensure quick response in case of an emergency.
The IFRC's information systems manager for Eastern Africa, David Kola, was sent to the country to give support in setting up the emergency telecommunications equipment. He visited 13 branches and 3 sub branches in 16 locations in the north. In just three weeks, he covered more than 7,500 kilometres of vast land in the Blue Nile, Dongola, Kadugli, Albara and Port Sudan regions to name just a few.
"In each branch, at least two volunteers were trained on how to handle the telecommunications equipment and will be the focal persons in responding. All emergency centres in the north and south are now running 24 hours a day and are well connected," says Kola.
Little infrastructure
The elections have been extended by another two days to give more time to the voters in the South, most of whom are illiterate and struggling with the complicated voting system that requires them to go through 12 different ballot papers. "The region's infrastructure is almost non-existent, devastated by years of civil war, making the elections process complex to say the least," says Kola.
"Telecommunication equipment was also installed in four branches in south Sudan. Thanks to our contribution, information can be relayed quickly. And, while we hope for the best we're prepared for the worst: any occurrence of violence will trigger an immediate response from trained Red Crescent volunteers," he adds.
KHARTOUM, SUDAN - A French employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) abducted Thursday in war-torn Darfur is in "good health", Sudan's minister of state for humanitarian affairs Abdel Baqi Gilani told AFP.- - -
"He is in good health according to the first report I have received," Gilani said about Frenchman Gauthier Lefevre, who the Red Cross earlier said was abducted near El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur state.
Gilani did not elaborate but he said he expected Lefevre to be freed "soon" because he works for the Red Cross, with has a good reputation among Darfur groups.
"I think he will be released soon. The ICRC is very respected and neutral and has no enmity among Darfur groups," Gilani said.
He also described the kidnappers as "bandits" and said that the Sudanese government "condemns" the abduction - the fifth one of a foreign relief worker in war-torn Darfur since March but the first to target an ICRC employee.
In Geneva, the ICRC issued a statement earlier saying the incident occurred around midday as Lefevre "was returning with other ICRC staff to El-Geneina after completing a field trip north of the town to help local communities upgrade their water supply systems.
"He was travelling in one of two clearly marked ICRC vehicles when he was seized a few kilometres (miles) from the town."
The ICRC has called for his immediate and "unconditional release" - a demand also made by the French foreign ministry in Paris. -AFP
- - -
EL GENEINA (23 Oct 2009- Updated) – A French staff worker of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in El Geneina in West Darfur was kidnapped from his car this afternoon. He was returninmg to his compound after a fieldtrip to supervise waterprojects.
Radio Dabanga learnt that he was seized 40 kilometres from Geneina town in his ICRC marked car by around ten gun men.
The men took the Red Cross worker out of the Red Cross car, leaving other ICRC staff behind allowing them to continue their way, Tamara Al-Rifai, spokesperson of the ICRC in Khartoum told Radio Dabanga.
A local reporter of Radio Dabanga noticed that the kidnappers were heading for the nearby border with Chad. This was confirmed by a government official in El Geneina.
The new kidnap case happened few days after the release of two aid workers of GOAL after 106 of captivity. The kidnapping of two UNAMID-staff workers in Zalingei is still continuing. [...]
Khartoum/Geneva (ICRC) – An expatriate staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was abducted by several armed men today near the town of Al Geneina, in West Darfur, near the border with Chad.
The incident occurred around midday local time. The staff member, Gauthier Lefevre, a French national, was returning with other ICRC staff to Al Geneina after completing a field trip north of the town to help local communities upgrade their water supply systems. He was travelling in one of two clearly marked ICRC vehicles when he was seized a few kilometres from the town.
The ICRC currently has no indication of who the abductors might be or of their motives. It is in contact with the authorities and other parties with the aim of resolving the situation as swiftly as possible.
Mr Lefevre's family was informed of the incident immediately.
The ICRC is calling for the rapid and unconditional release of its kidnapped staff member.
For further information, please contact:
Tamara Al-Rifai, ICRC Khartoum, tel: +249 183 476 464 or +249 912 17 05 76
Anna Schaaf, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 22 71 or +41 79 217 32 17
JULY 16, 2009
More at Blogrunner »
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JEM has freed 60 police officers, troops
The International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters on Saturday that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had handed over the captives to Red Cross officials. The freed hostages are now with the Sudanese authorities in Darfur.
"JEM has released 55 Sudan Armed Forces soldiers and five policemen," Reuters quoted Red Cross spokesman Saleh Dabbakeh as saying.
File photo shows JEM fighters driving in an unknown location in Darfur. (Press TV)
Source: Press TV, Sat, 18 Jul 2009 - Darfur rebels free 60 police officers, troops
- - -
UPDATE on Sunday 19 July 2009: See report by James Copnall, BBC News, Khartoum, 19:43 GMT, Saturday, 18 July 2009 20:43 UK - Darfur rebels free Sudan troops - excerpt:
They were released by the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) to the ICRC, and then handed over to the Sudanese authorities in Kutum, in North Darfur.
The handover is one of the biggest since the bitter conflict in Darfur began in 2003.
A spokesman for the group said most of the prisoners were taken in clashes between Jem troops and government forces in the north-east of Darfur earlier this year.
The spokesman said his movement had decided to release the men as a gesture of goodwill. He said Jem still holds lots of prisoners, but refused to say how many.
The Sudanese government was not immediately available for comment.
