Abductors of a pastor of the Coptic Church in Nyala of Sudan’s South Darfur state demanded ransom for his release, the interior minister said in a security briefing last week.
Rev. Gabriel Anthony, pastor of the Holy Mary Girgis Coptic Church, was kidnapped in Bielel, south of Nyala while returning from his farm in mid-April.
Minister Ismat Abdurrahman Zain al-Addin told parliamentarians that religious reasons were not behind the kidnapping.
He added that the authorities were still negotiating with the kidnappers for the release the priest.
Armed groups have been active in the Darfur region, kidnapping foreign aid workers and business people to extort money in exchange for their release.
But observers said abduction of clergy is strange in the region. Hundreds of Coptic Christian families have lived for many years in Darfur where they involved in various investment sectors.
Related:
Gunmen kidnap Coptic priest in Nyala, South Darfur (15 Apr.)