EFFORTS TO secure the release of an Irish aid worker held hostage in Darfur with her Ugandan colleague are continuing following a meeting between local tribal chiefs and representatives of the Sudanese, Irish and Ugandan governments.
Sudan’s minister for humanitarian affairs, Abdul Bagi al-Jailani, who is overseeing negotiations for the release of Sharon Commins (33) from Clontarf, Dublin, and Hilda Kawuki (42), a nutritionist from Uganda, travelled with Irish Ambassador Gerry Corr and his Ugandan counterpart to El Fasher, the main town in north Darfur, earlier this week.
On Wednesday the three men met 10 tribal elders from the area where Ms Commins and Ms Kawuki were abducted at gunpoint from their compound on July 3rd. The two women were based in the north Darfur town of Kutum for their work with Irish aid agency Goal.
Speaking to The Irish Timesfrom the Sudanese capital Khartoum last night, Mr Jailani said the chiefs condemned the kidnapping and agreed with the Sudanese authorities that a ransom should not be paid to those responsible.