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Sudanese rebels free 29 Chinese workers
The militias have handed over the hostages to the International Red Cross, after days of mediation with officials of the governments of Beijing and Khartoum. Workers are now in Nairobi and will be repatriated in the coming days. They were kidnapped last January 28 along with 18 others, who managed to escape. One of them has been found dead by the Sudanese army.
Beijing (AsiaNews/agencies) – The 29 Chinese workers have been freed, who were kidnapped in Sudan recently by rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in southern Kordofan. Sources from the Chinese Foreign Ministry explained that the rebels handed over the hostages to International Red Cross officials, who acted as intermediaries with the kidnappers. After being freed, the workers were transported to the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi (Kenya). Today, Qiu Xuejun, the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, confirmed the hostages' release and emphasized that they are in good health, though many of them are still in shock.
The team of 29 technicians works for the Sinohydro Corporation, a Chinese company specializing in the construction of concrete hydraulic pipes. They were captured 28 January along with another 18 workers, to be used as a bargaining chip in a dispute between the Khartoum Government and the rebels, who since June have controlled the oil-rich state of South Kordofan. After three days of captivity, 17 managed to escape and were rescued by the Sudanese army. One of the hostages died. His body was found yesterday by some soldiers.
This is the third capture of Chinese workers in Sudan since 2004. In recent days, Beijing sent a team of six negotiators to pressure the Khartoum Government and ensure the return of the 29 workers. During the workers' capture, Chinese officials held several talks in Ethiopia and Kenya with the leaders of the SPLM-N, to negotiate the hostages' release. China is Sudan's largest trading partner, despite an international embargo, and has been accused of selling weapons used in its civil war. The secessionist South holds approximately 80% of the 480,000 barrels of oil per day extracted by the China National Petroleum Corp. (which receives approximately 60% of it), by the Malaysian Petroliam Nasional Bhd and by the Indian Oil & Natural Gas Corp.
Beijing justifies its relations with dictatorial governments by the doctrine of "non-interference" in the internal affairs of other countries, also in polemic with Western interventionism, accused of "colonialism". But China has big interests in Sudan: the CNPC built the 1,500 kilometres of pipeline carrying oil from the South to Port Sudan, and Chinese firms have built roads, entire neighborhoods, and services. The United States envies their presence and, according to some analysts, means to contend with Beijing for dominance in the area.