Sudan/Insurgency: French aid worker Laurent Maurice released in Chad

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced that French aid worker Laurent Maurice, who was kidnapped in Chad last year, was released after three months in captivity. "The ICRC is relieved that Laurent is now free, and happy that he will soon be back with his family and friends," Jordi Raich, the head of the ICRC's mission in Sudan, confirmed.

Maurice was freed on 6 February 2010 and was immediately flown to Khartoum where he received medical check-up. The group, which calls itself the Freedom Eagles of Africa, kidnapped Maurice on November 9, 2009 in the village of Kawa, about 20km from the border with Sudan.

Abu Mohamed al-Rizeigi, a spokesperson for the Freedom Eagles of Africa stated that the main reason was a recent improvement in relations between Sudan and Chad. "This is definitely because of French influence and we want France to do more."