On 25 July, IOM staff member, Felix Ngoma, is received by UNAMID Head of Office in Nyala, Imtiaz Hussain, after he has been released. Photo by Saidi Msonda.

Nyala, 25 July 2014 – A staff member with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Felix Ngoma, who was abducted in Nyala, South Darfur, on 6 July 2014, was freed today after 20 days in captivity.

Mr. Ngoma, a Zambian national, appears to be unharmed and in good condition. He will soon be flown back to his home country via Khartoum.

The African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the Officer-in-Charge of IOM in Sudan, Ms. Maysaa Alghribawy, have expressed their appreciation to the Government of Sudan, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services, the Wali (Governor) of South Darfur and the Government of Zambia for their valuable assistance in the safe release of Mr. Ngoma.

Mr. Ngoma was abducted on 6 July at about 5:30-6:00 pm when gunmen driving on a land cruiser intercepted him along the road between UNAMID’s Regional Headquarters and Nyala town. The abductors forced him out of his vehicle at gunpoint before disappearing with him on their car.