KHARTOUM
The UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) confirmed Tuesday that two Russian pilots working for a company contracted by the mission had been kidnapped by militants in the restive Sudanese region last week.
"Unidentified militants on Jan. 29 kidnapped two Russian pilots in Zalingei [capital city of Central Darfur state] as they were on board a bus in the city," UNAMID spokesman Ashraf Eissa told The Anadolu Agency.
"The mission is currently working with the Sudanese authorities to secure the two pilots' release," he said, declining to give further details to ensure the pilots' safety.
Darfur has been the scene of a ferocious war between the Sudanese government and three rebel movements since 2003. The conflict has left 300,000 people dead and around 2.5 million others displaced, according to UN figures.
The Sudanese government, however, insists that the death toll does not exceed 10,000 people.
UNAMID has been working in Darfur since early 2008. It is the second largest peacekeeping mission in the world, containing 20,000 troops, policemen and personnel from several countries.
