Irish citizen Sharon Commins and her Ugandan co-worker Hilda Kawuki were working for the Irish charity Goal when they were taken hostage at gunpoint at an aid compound in Kutum on 3 July.

During a recently-concluded mission to Ireland by Secretary General Noble, Ireland's Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Seán Aylward, and An Garda Síochána Commissioner of Police Fachtna Murphy both asked Secretary General Noble to raise the issue of the kidnapping of Sharon Commins with the Sudanese police authorities. Specifically, the head of INTERPOL was asked to express the continued importance that the Republic of Ireland gave to the safe return of Ms Commins and to ask the Sudanese police to give this case its highest priority.

During INTERPOL's General Assembly in Singapore last week, Secretary General Noble met with Sudanese authorities to relay Ireland's message and in addition offered any support that INTERPOL could give Sudanese authorities to obtain the release of Ms Commins.

“The successful efforts of all those involved in the negotiations for the release of the two aid workers, including local and national government representatives in Sudan, Ireland and Uganda, as well as the charity whose workers were kidnapped, are all to be commended,” said Secretary General Noble.

“It is essential that the thousands of dedicated people worldwide working for international organizations to better the lives of the citizens of the country they are deployed to should be able to do so without fear.

“INTERPOL will continue to support all local, regional and international efforts to ensure the safe and swift release of all international workers detained and missing around the world,” added Mr Noble.

Two employees of the joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping force are still being held captive in Darfur.