A Central African Republic (CAR) government minister has been freed by gunmen who kidnapped him last month. Family members confirmed on Wednesday that Armel Mingatoloum Sayo had been freed overnight, but the circumstances of his release remained unclear.
It was reported on January 26 that the youth and sports minister was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.
Mr Sayo was pulled from his car in January by gunmen believed to be linked to the country's anti-balaka militia.
The anti-balaka is a mainly Christian militia that formed to oppose the Muslim-led Seleka rebel group.
Mr Sayo's abduction was one of a number in CAR in January - a UN employee and a French aid worker were taken hostage at about the same time. Both were also later released.
The anti-balaka fighters deny involvement in Mr Sayo's abduction.
Mr Sayo's family were in contact with the kidnappers while he was being held but the government denied that a ransom had been paid.
"We have done it with discretion," Nicaise Samedi Karnou, CAR's minister for public security, told the BBC.
"We did not want to do it with the media hype. But I can assure you it's the government that has made this possible. Not a franc has been given for the release of the minister, not a single franc." (BBC)
Mr Sayo was pulled from his car in January by gunmen believed to be linked to the country's anti-balaka militia.
The anti-balaka is a mainly Christian militia that formed to oppose the Muslim-led Seleka rebel group.
Mr Sayo's abduction was one of a number in CAR in January - a UN employee and a French aid worker were taken hostage at about the same time. Both were also later released.
The anti-balaka fighters deny involvement in Mr Sayo's abduction.
Mr Sayo's family were in contact with the kidnappers while he was being held but the government denied that a ransom had been paid.
"We have done it with discretion," Nicaise Samedi Karnou, CAR's minister for public security, told the BBC.
"We did not want to do it with the media hype. But I can assure you it's the government that has made this possible. Not a franc has been given for the release of the minister, not a single franc." (BBC)
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