Two Russian pilots, employees of UTair airlines and contracted by the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), were kidnapped on January 29.
“The security forces managed to locate the kidnapped employees of a Russian airline [who were] in Sudan. They are located in the Jebel Avon region not far from Zalingei city,” the source said.
The Russian embassy in Sudan stated to RIA Novosti that it had not received any information regarding the whereabouts of the kidnapped Russians.
On January 29, the Governor of the state of Central Darfur in Sudan, reported that two Russians, presumed to be working for an airline under a UN contract, were abducted by unidentified men.
In early February, UTair confirmed that two of its employees were kidnapped in Darfur, Sudan, adding that the company and the United Nations were searching for them. Later that day, UNAMID also confirmed the report.
Sudanese government forces and several rebel groups have been fighting in western Sudan’s Darfur region since 2003. Violence, including armed robberies, home invasions and kidnappings has remained high in the province.
