At least eight local aid workers belonging to a US-based Christian charity
have been abducted by rebel forces in South Sudan, an army spokesman
said Monday.
The employees of the organization Samaritan's Purse were kidnapped near Mayendit in the north of the country late Sunday, Brigadier Lul Ruai Koang said.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it was aware that "staff of an NGO have reportedly gone missing in South Sudan."
"For the safety and security of the aid workers concerned, we will not be providing any further information," spokeswoman Guiomar Pau Sole said by email.
"Active negotiations are underway with all parties to ensure the return of the aid workers to safety," she added.
Koang said the rebels were seeking a ransom for the aid workers. dpa was not immediately able to get a comment from the rebels or from Samaritan's Purse.
Two Indian nationals working in South Sudan's oil fields in the northern Upper Nile region were meanwhile abducted by the rebels last week, Information Minister Michael Makuei said Monday.
He said the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of 1 million dollars from the oil company – which he named as the partly Chinese-owned Dar Petroleum – or the government.
"The government of South Sudan will not pay the ransom," the minister said, calling for the unconditional release of the hostages.
dpa was not able to independently verify the information.
South Sudan is trying to revive its oil production – the government's main source of revenue – which has plummeted because of the ongoing military conflict.
A split between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar turned violent in December 2013. Tens of thousands have been killed and 3.4 million displaced.
About 100,000 people are facing a famine and 1 million are on the brink of famine, according to the UN.
Aid workers have frequently complained of bureaucratic obstacles, checkpoints where government or rebel troops demand payments from aid convoys, looting of compounds, and even the rape and murder of humanitarian workers.
The government recently ordered foreign aid workers to pay 10,000 dollars for work permits each if they want to stay in the country.
The employees of the organization Samaritan's Purse were kidnapped near Mayendit in the north of the country late Sunday, Brigadier Lul Ruai Koang said.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it was aware that "staff of an NGO have reportedly gone missing in South Sudan."
"For the safety and security of the aid workers concerned, we will not be providing any further information," spokeswoman Guiomar Pau Sole said by email.
"Active negotiations are underway with all parties to ensure the return of the aid workers to safety," she added.
Koang said the rebels were seeking a ransom for the aid workers. dpa was not immediately able to get a comment from the rebels or from Samaritan's Purse.
Two Indian nationals working in South Sudan's oil fields in the northern Upper Nile region were meanwhile abducted by the rebels last week, Information Minister Michael Makuei said Monday.
He said the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of 1 million dollars from the oil company – which he named as the partly Chinese-owned Dar Petroleum – or the government.
"The government of South Sudan will not pay the ransom," the minister said, calling for the unconditional release of the hostages.
dpa was not able to independently verify the information.
South Sudan is trying to revive its oil production – the government's main source of revenue – which has plummeted because of the ongoing military conflict.
A split between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar turned violent in December 2013. Tens of thousands have been killed and 3.4 million displaced.
About 100,000 people are facing a famine and 1 million are on the brink of famine, according to the UN.
Aid workers have frequently complained of bureaucratic obstacles, checkpoints where government or rebel troops demand payments from aid convoys, looting of compounds, and even the rape and murder of humanitarian workers.
The government recently ordered foreign aid workers to pay 10,000 dollars for work permits each if they want to stay in the country.
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