At least three oil workers were reportedly kidnapped by unidentified gunmen at Kanar oil field in Sudan’s West Kordofan state on Friday, after the killing of three security men.

The nationalities of the kidnapped workers were revealed as one Sudanese, one Chinese and one Algerian, according to sources.

In remarks to the press yesterday, the spokesman of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Al Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad stated the gunmen apparently targeted the engineers.

He noted the criminals attacked the security force stationed at the Kanar oil field: “The security force was not big in number, so during the clashes about two of them were killed on the spot by the assailants.”

He affirmed that the government is pursuing the kidnapers to recover the kidnapped oil workers.

The Justice and Equality Movement, a rebel group active in the region, denied any involvement in the kidnapping.

In another development, West Kordofan Governor Ahmed Khamis announced on Thursday that his state will a host peace conference between the feuding Ma’alia and Rizeigat tribes of East Darfur.

Khamis emphasized the importance of security around the oil fields, saying that all the communities of West Kordofan must take part in the protection of the oil resources.

File photo

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