El-Fasher — 11 Sudanese engineers employed by a Chinese company building bridges and roads in Darfur were released on Sunday, 28 January, the state's governor says.

Osma Kibir declared the workers were released after continued talks with the kidnappers, adding the state did not accept their financial requests. The identity of the captors was not revealed.

Mohamed Suleiman Rabeh, commissioner of the Kuma locality, said the hostages' release took place after "the strenuous efforts by the state government over the past two weeks".

The Sudanese nationals were freed near Zam Zam camp, 17 kilometers southwest of El-Fasher. They were abducted together with four Chinese colleagues on the Western Salvation Road on 12 January.

Radio Dabanga reported the Chinese were freed on 16 January, in the area of Khor Abeche, bordering the states of North and South Darfur.

Following the abduction of the 15 workers, North Darfur's governor had announced plans to increase the security of businesses operating in the area.