A DUBLIN woman was among three people kidnapped by armed men at a compound run by the Irish aid agency Goal in Sudan last night.
Sharon Commins (32), an aid worker, was taken from the compound in Kutum, near Darfur, along with a Ugandan colleague, Hilda Kawuki, who is in her 40s, and a security guard.
Goal founder and CEO John O'Shea told The Irish Timesthat six armed men had come to the agency's compound in Kutum at 8.30pm and removed three people.
He said the security guard had been freed and that he was being interviewed by police seeking to find details about the incident.
Mr O’Shea said the Goal operation was in shock following the event and that he was hopeful the aid workers would soon be found safe and well. “We hope this is an issue of people looking for ransom money,” he said.
“It can’t be a political matter as we have never taken any sides in the conflict here over the seven or eight years we have been working in Darfur. I’d imagine it is an issue of criminality.”
Ms Commins has been working with Goal for four years and in the Darfur region for the last 18 months. She completed a degree in communications in Dublin Institute of Technology and a masters in International Relations in Dublin City University before commencing the job.
Flora Hillis, Sudan country director for Goal, said the agency was attempting to figure out where the women had been taken.
“We are just trying to find out more information. It was a total surprise to us. There had been no increase in insecurity.”
A fellow aid worker in Sudan said: “Sharon is completely committed to what she’s doing and understands the context of the emergency in Darfur. She never does anything silly and I know she has always been sensible on security matters. We are all hoping and praying for her quick release.”
A group calling themselves the Eagles of Bashir kidnapped MSF aid workers earlier this year, soon after the International Criminal Court indicted President Omar al Bahir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Aid workers feared a surge in hostility after 13 agencies were also expelled. However, security conditions have eased since then.
Goal has been working in Sudan since 1985.