Sudan says police freed US aid worker held for 4 months in Darfur

Sudan: American aid worker freed in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan — A U.S. aid worker kidnapped four months ago in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region has been freed by authorities, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Spokesman Muawiya Khaled told The Associated Press that an American woman was liberated by police in the Abu Agora area south of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province. The North Carolina-based aid organization Samaritan’s Purse identified the woman as Flavia Wagner, 35.

In May, the woman and two Sudanese working for the group run by evangelist Franklin Graham were kidnapped by armed men. Samaritan’s Purse says it has provided $83.7 million in assistance to Sudan over the past decade.

Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations at Samaritan’s Purse, said all indications were that Wagner was treated well during her captivity. She will be examined by a doctor.

“The negotiators from the government of Sudan used their influence to gain her freedom,” he said. “We are thrilled.”

The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since ethnic African rebels rose up in 2003, accusing Sudan’s Arab-dominated central government of neglect and discrimination.

Violence had largely subsided in Darfur over the last year, but a recent spike followed the April elections, including a number of kidnappings. Isaacs said the kidnappers appeared to be criminals.

“There was never any political or ideological motives expressed,” he said.

The aid group said in an email that Wagner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was living in Bronxville, NY, when she applied for a position with Samaritan’s Purse a year ago. Some of her family lives in Southern California.