20110417
Sudan Tribune

Khartoum — Sudanese authorities paid a ransom of 500 thousand pounds to free nine foreigners held captive in the restive Darfur region, a Sudanese court disclosed on Sunday.

A special criminal court in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, trying Sudanese accused of abducting Latvian air crew last year revealed that "some" Sudanese authorities paid 500 thousand pounds (over 150 thousand USD) to secure their release.

The investigations also show that 20 thousand pounds were paid to the abductors for the release of some members of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur UNAMID.

The Latvian pilots, who work for the UN World Food Programme were abducted on 5 November, 2010 in the South Darfur city of Nyala.

Sudanese security service who usually deal with such files denied in the past paying any ransom to the kidnappers who are often former members of the government militias. The latter blame Khartoum for not honoring promises received to fight the rebels.

The western Sudan region of Darfur has been beset by violence since 2003 after rebels began an armed insurgency against Khartoum accusing the central government of supporting land grabbing by Arab tribes and neglecting development .

To counter the rebels, the central authorities used local militiamen who targeted civilians. The Janjaweed killed villagers and burnt their homes. They are also accused of raping women and torturing captives.

The United Nations agencies estimate that 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Darfur, and 2.5 million have fled their homes. Sudan denies the death toll is that high.

Sudan's President Omer Hassan Al Bashir is accused by the International Criminal Court of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, but he denies the charges.