(AFRICOM PAO NOTE: Following is a statement made by Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State, June 11, 2010. It is posted on U.S. AFRICOM's website to promote public awareness of U.S. policy in Africa.)

Escape of Four Sudanese Men Convicted of Murdering Two USAID Employees

Today we learned that four men sentenced to death by Sudanese courts for the 2008 murders of two USAID employees--John Granville and Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama--have escaped from Khartoum's Kober Prison.

The U.S. Government has closely followed the trial of these men since the murders took place in Khartoum on January 1, 2008, and has appreciated the Government of Sudan's efforts and cooperation in prosecuting the murderers, who showed no remorse for their actions during the trail.

The United States Government expects that Sudanese authorities to apprehend these convicted murderers, and ensure that justice is served for the men killed and their families.

John Granville, 33, worked for USAID for three years in Sudan on democracy and governance programs. He was originally from Buffalo, New York. Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama, 39, joined USAID in 2004 as a member of the Disaster Assistance Response Team in Darfur.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah today express once again their full support for these brave public servants and their families. Granville and Rahama represent the best of USAID--service to others and a compassion for those in need.