Four peacekeepers from South Africa serving with the UN-African Mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, were released yesterday after 16 days in captivity.
UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari was in Nyala, South Darfur, to receive the released hostages.Mr. Gambari thanked the government and the local authorities for the good cooperation to secure the release of the kidnapped blue helmets.
He voiced his hopes that this was the last time that peacekeepers, military, police and civilians, are subjected to such unacceptable ordeals.
The release came a day after Mr. Gambari met President-elect Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
Mr. al-Bashir pledged to do everything possible to assist in bringing about the safe return of the UNAMID personnel.
The police advisors, two men and two women, were abducted in Nyala on 11 April while returning to their base.
They will be flown to South Africa after undergoing medical examinations.