Twenty nine Chinese nationals, kidnapped ten days ago in Sudan, have been released. They have now safely arrived in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Freed Chinese hostages arrive in Kenya.

A smooth landing after a harrowing experience.

The group of 29, abducted by local rebels in Sudan last month, arrived in Nairobi, safe and sound.

They were flanked at the airport by officials including Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Liu Guangyuan and Qiu Xuejun, the head of the Chinese rescue team in Sudan.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the freed nationals will undergo a physical examination. Once completed, they will have some time to rest and re-adjust, before flying home.

On January 28th, the twenty-nine construction workers were kidnapped by gunmen belonging to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, an anti-government force on the border with neighboring South Sudan. 18 in the camp fled, 17 were found by the Sudanese army and one was confirmed dead.

Following the attack, China immediately set up a task force to work with the Sudanese government in freeing the hostages.

A 6-member Chinese rescue team was sent to Sudan, 3 days after the kidnapping.

Ten days later, the hostages were freed through the joint efforts of the Chinese and Sudanese governments, the International Red Cross and other groups.

The kidnapping raises a tough question though: How to keep Chinese nationals safe in an era of growing development in Africa?

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