We need to know if SANDF soldiers were held hostage in Sudan

16 June 2015

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, should make a public statement confirming or denying reports that South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were held hostage in Sudan during the drama surrounding the possible arrest of Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, in South Africa (see Beeld report here).

Earlier today, reports emerged claiming that heavily armed Sudanese soldiers surrounded South African National Defence Force soldiers deployed as part of United Nations (UN)/African Union (AU) peace support mission in Darfur and only withdrew after President Omar al-Bashir had returned safely to Sudan.

If this is true, it suggests that President Omar al-Bashir may have used South African National Defence Force soldiers, deployed in Sudan, as a bargaining chip to escape arrest in South Africa.

Whatever the case, the Defence Minister needs to make a public statement confirming or denying reports that South African National Defence Force soldiers were held hostage in Sudan during the drama surrounding the possible arrest of President Omar al-Bashir in South Africa.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, June 16 2015