The negotiation to recover the over 100 abducted children and stolen live-stocks by members of armed Murle tribe of South Sudan has continued after 19 abducted Ethiopian children by members were released, APA learns here on Tuesday.The children were rescued from a village called “Awdi” and brought to Gambella state of Ethiopia on Monday accompanied by representatives of the Ethiopian Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense of South Sudan.
Some 125 children were taken from Gambella region in a cross-border raid on April 15, 2016.
The newly appointed South Sudanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, James Pitia Morgan said that the joint activities towards rescuing the children have continued.
The Ambassador said that activities are being carried out to free additional 52 children.
According to the Ambassador, the place where the children are being held has been located and negotiations have continued for their safe return.
Since then, the Ethiopian defense forces have been tracking down the culprits to rescue the children.
Having located the place where the children were held, the Ethiopian defense forces were ready to take action to rescue the children, according to Major General Fiseha Kidanu, Commander of the western command said.
The forces restrained from taking action with the request of the South Sudanese officials to settle the situation peacefully.
South Sudanese Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General David YauYau said this is the first phase of an operation towards rescuing all the abducted children.
The minister affirmed the commitment and readiness of the South Sudanese government for the safe return of the children.
“Both Ethiopian and South Sudanese are working together and they will return to their families.� he said.
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