Kidnapped European aid worker in Darfur released after five months

A European aid worker held captive in Sudan's restive Darfur province for five months has been released, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Thursday, DPA reported.

Gauthier Lefevre, who has joint British-French nationality, was kidnapped north of the town of Al Geneina, West Darfur, as he returned from a field trip on October 22.

"We are relieved and happy that Gauthier will soon be back with his family and friends, who have been living a painful nightmare for almost five months and cannot wait to see him return home," Jordi Raich, the head of the ICRC's delegation in Sudan, said in a statement.

While the Darfur conflict has died down to sporadic clashes, insecurity remains high and aid workers are prime targets for kidnapping and criminal attacks.