South Sudan’s main armed opposition group allied to former first vice president turned rebel leader, Riek Machar says it has released the six aid workers who were abducted during clashes in the northern town of Raja in Lol state.
“The leadership of the SPLM/A IO is pleased to announce the handover of the six aids workers who were recovered during a clash with JEM militias and government forces in Mangayat,” said Paul Lam Gabriel, rebel deputy spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.
Gabriel pointed out that the United Nations safely extracted the workers.
For its part, The UN humanitarian agency said the six aid workers who went missing after clashes broke out in Raja days ago have returned safely.
According to the UN statement on Wednesday, the workers are with two international groups, HealthNet and Solidarity International, and one local aid group. They include Solidarity International's country director, Mainul Islam Opu from Bangladesh, and five South Sudanese nationals.
The workers disappeared Sunday when clashes erupted near the north town of Raga.