French Ambassador Reports Release of Darfur Hostage

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000101

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DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/09
TAGS: PGOV PREL ICRC CD SU
SUBJECT: French Ambassador Reports Release of Darfur Hostage

REF: A. 09 KHARTOUM 1146; B. 09 KHARTOUM 1173; C. 09 KHARTOUM 1218

D. 09 KHARTOUM 1360

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert E. Whitehead, CDA, Department of State; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)


1. (SBU) Summary: French Ambassador Nicoloso informed CDA on
February 7 that a French aid worker at the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC),held hostage in Darfur since November,
2009, had been released. End summary.


2. (SBU) French Ambassador Nicoloso told CDA on February 5 that
there was a possible breakthrough in the case of four kidnapped
French aid workers being held in Darfur. In a subsequent
conversation on February 7, Nicoloso informed CDA of the release of
one hostage, an ICRC agronomist named Laurent Maurice, who had been
kidnapped in Chad on November 9 and brought across the border into
Darfur, where he was held for nearly three months. Three other
French nationals are still being held hostage in the Darfur region,
including another ICRC worker, one Gauthier Lefevre, who was
kidnapped in a separate incident on October 22 (Ref. C, D).
Maurice is reportedly in good condition.


3. (C) Ambassador Nicoloso told CDA that he had met with President
Bashir to thank him for the efforts of Government of Sudan (GOS)
negotiators who had arranged for the release. He was accompanied
to the meeting by French Presidential Advisor for Africa Parant.
Nicoloso did not divulge details on the negotiations, including
whether any ransom had been paid. However, in a prior
conversation with CDA (Ref. C),Ambassador Nicoloso had speculated
that the GOS might make some sort of in-kind payment to the tribe
involved in the kidnapping, in order to secure the release of
hostages. (Note: After the release of Mr. Maurice, ICRC officials
and a spokesman for the hostage-takers made statements to the press
denying that any ransom had been paid, but a GOS official did allow
that "logistical help" such as vehicles and fuel had been provided
during the mediation. End note.)


4. (C) Comment: There is general consensus among the humanitarian
community that security on the Chad-Sudan border is deteriorating,
and that additional abductions will occur. According to a number
of international government and non-government officials involved
in the hostage negotiations, the rash of kidnappings in Darfur has
been motivated by greed, not politics. The timing of Laurent
Maurice's release from captivity was opportune, occurring just
days before Chadian President Deby was scheduled to arrive in
Sudan. End comment.
WHITEHEAD