2 UN peacekeeping workers in DRC kidnapped

By Godfrey Olukya

ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo (AA) - Two workers of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been kidnapped.

DRC officials have identified the kidnapped UN personnel as U.S. national Michael Sharp and Swiss citizen Zaida Catalan.

They were reportedly taken in the central Kasai province which has recently been hit by several attacks carried out by Kamuina Nsapu militia.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende said three Congolese drivers and a translator were also abducted alongside with the two UN workers.

The government said no group has yet to claim responsibility for the kidnappings.

The spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, Charles Antoine Bambara, has confirmed that the two peacekeeping workers have been abducted.

There are over 17,000 UN peacekeeping troops in the DRC mostly in the eastern and central parts of the country which are infested with ruthless militancy.