The 29 kidnapped Chinese workers are employees of the state-owned Sinohydro Corporation, a hydropower engineering and construction company. Insurgents from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement - North had held the construction workers in captivity since January 28, following a battle with the Sudanese military in South Kordofan. The rebel group claimed that it had taken the Chinese for their own safety.

In the wake of the abduction China designated a six-member team to rescue its nationals. Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister called on the African nation to “do everything it can to ensure the safety of the Chinese personnel.”

According to Sudan’s foreign ministry, the Red Cross flew the captives to the Chinese embassy in Kenya's capital. Late on Tuesday, the ministry confirmed that the workers had arrived in Nairobi “in sound physical and mental condition”, the ministry said in a statement.

Crisis zones

Large communities who supported the south during decades of civil war reside in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. It is said that they have been ostracized by the Khartoum government since South Sudan declared independence last July.

South Kordofan and Blue Nile are crisis zones not only for Chinese, but also for people from the West. Wang Hong Yi, Deputy Director of a Beijing-based African Research Center, says abductions will continue:   

“It’s not the first time and won’t be the last. Chinese workers in Africa are regularly exposed to peril,” Wang told Deutsche Welle, pointing out that most of the Chinese investment projects in Africa, including energy and minerals expansion and industrial factories, are located in the high-risk areas full of conflicts and tension.

China is a major investor in Sudan and the biggest buyer of Sudanese oil. Western diplomats say China has the best chance of easing tensions between Khartoum and Juba, which are deadlocked in a squabble over oil, splitting debt. This results in violence and conflicts on their borders. However, China has never meddled in Sudan’s internal politics, Wang said.

Sudan is seeking to overcome a serious economic crisis by encouraging China to invest in the undeveloped country. The abduction has been very embarrassing in diplomatic terms. Nonetheless Wang plays this aspect down.

“China and Sudan have been maintaining a very good economic and political relationship,” said Wang. “This incident won’t have a big impact on their solid relationship. They need each other for mutual benefits.”

Under-the-table talks

It is believed that the kidnapping will draw attention to the predicament of over 400, 000 civilians who have fled the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and trigger pressure on the Sudanese government.

Alexander Demissie, a researcher in Sino-Africa relations,  believes that the Chinese workers were released after some off-the-record negotiations between Sudanese parties. “The release is based on diplomacy and talks, some of which were carried out under the table. They must have held talks and come to the conclusion that it’s better to free the people not involved in it.”


Author: Miriam Wong
Editor: Grahame Lucas