KHARTOUM, Sudan, May 30 (UPI) -- A British aid worker for the U.N. World Food Program was released in the South Darfur region of Sudan after 86 days in captivity, the agency announced.
Patrick Noonan and his Sudanese driver were abducted March 6 by armed men in South Darfur. His driver was released that day.
Ibrahim Gambari, director of the African Union-U.N. Hybrid Operation in Darfur, said Noonan's release was secured with the help of regional and national authorities.
"It is now crucial that the government of Sudan … pursue the hostage takers and bring them to justice," said Gambari.
WFP said 40 humanitarian aid workers have been abducted from the region since 2009.
His release follows the resumption of peace talks between the governments of Sudan and South Sudan, which became an independent country in July as part of a comprehensive peace agreement reached in 2005.
Khartoum said this week it was pulling its forces out of the disputed border territory of Abyei, though South Sudanese officials said assaults were continuing elsewhere along the border, the independent Sudan Tribune reports.
Peace talks are under way in Ethiopia. Border disputes, ethnic conflicts and disagreements over oil are threatening to undermine the 2005 peace deal.
