The government of Kenya has yet again condemned abduction of two Cuban doctors who were working in Mandera, insisting that the incident was uncalled for.
On Monday, RTN Somali TV announced that security forces deployed in the interior parts of Somalia had located the doctors although it did not give further details on the same.
"Cuban Doctors Landy Rodriguez Hernandez and Dr Assel Herrera Correa reportedly sighted alive in the forested Halaanqo area near Barawe four days after their capture," the station reported.
Foreign Affairs minister Monica Juma on Thursday said a multi-agency operation is ongoing in Somalia, adding that she's optimistic it would yield results. She also said that elders from Mandera had crossed over the border to negotiate with their counterparts in Somalia to resolve the predicament.
“We really condemn the abduction in the strongest term. There is no any justification for holding medical personnel in any circumstances,” she said, adding that the government is confident that they will be rescued.
Also, Ms Juma said the abduction will not attract any travel advisory from the West, adding that most tourists hardly visit North Eastern part of the country. She insisted that security of those working in volatile areas is guaranteed.
Dr Juma however, did not link the abduction to those that were carried in the North Eastern by Al-Shabaab militants, adding that the case could be unique given it's 'nature'.
KDF team chosen from Rangers Strike Regiment (Special Forces and Rangers Strike Force) have camped in Somalia and are said to have intensified search and rescue mission. They are trained in UK and the US.