JUBA , South Sudan, Nov. 2 (UPI) — South Sudanese rebels released 13 U.N. contract workers who were kidnapped a week ago from a fuel barge, the United Nations announced Monday.
The 13 United Nations Mission in South Sudan workers and 18 Bangladeshi soldiers working as UN peacekeepers, were aboard a convoy carrying fuel to a U.N. base in Renk, South Sudan, when the convoy was seized by about 100 rebels. The peacekeepers were released immediately, and the U.N. workers were released Sunday with the fuel barge, though material from the barge, including 14,500 gallons of fuel, was taken.
Ellen Margrethe Loj, U.N. Special Representative of the secretary-general in South Sudan, expressed her relief by the “safe release of all U.N. personnel,” but noted previously the kidnappings “may constitute a war crime.” She said “the barge was not transporting weapons cargo of any kind, in fact, all fuel cargo was bound for the UNMISS base in Renk, as a resupply.”
South Sudan has experienced rebellion, displacement of populations, and reports from both sides of ethnic massacres during its two-year civil war. A risk of famine has been predicted if aid does not reach the hardest-hit areas. The UN has deployed more than 12,500 peacekeepers to the country.
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