44 Fijian soldiers now being held by insurgents – Commander

The Commander of the RFMF Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga has confirmed there are now 44 Fijian soldiers that are being held in Syria by insurgents.

Tikoitoga said that after a thorough verification process, they identified that 44 soldiers were taken by insurgents and not 43 as previously stated.

Tikoitoga also said that local contacts in Syria have reassured the force commander that all the Fijian soldiers held in captivity are safe but he also stressed that there is no reason for the RFMF to believe the assurances which were given to them by the local contacts in Syria.

He said that the UN negotiators in collaboration with the unit commanders of the Fiji force in Syria are working together to verify the position of our Fijian soldiers.

He added that they have identified the 44 Fijian soldiers that have been captured and have started contacting their families to inform them about the current situation.

He also confirmed that none of the soldiers are women.

Tikoitoga also reassured the public and the families of the 44 Fijian soldiers that the UN and the RFMF will do everything in its power to ensure the safe return of the 44 Fijian soldiers.

Tikoitoga will be updating the media on the situation at a press conference at 8.30am.