In a troubling turn of events, an armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, has captured a United Nations (UN) helicopter in central Somalia. The incident occurred when the helicopter, belonging to the UN mission in Somalia, landed in territory held by the extremist group.
The helicopter, carrying nine people including military personnel and a third-party contractor, encountered a technical glitch shortly after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia. The aircraft landed close to Gadoon village in the Galgaduud region due to the defect, according to an internal UN memo seen by Al Jazeera.
Al-Shabaab reportedly seized several passengers, including at least six individuals, as the armed group maintains control over the region. The passengers taken by the group include military personnel and a third-party contractor. The UN has temporarily suspended all flights in the vicinity until further notice, as confirmed by the internal memo.
Major Hassan Ali, providing information to Reuters, stated that the helicopter was carrying medical supplies and was supposed to transport injured soldiers from the Galgaduud region. The incident underscores the challenges faced by the UN mission in Somalia, which has been actively involved in peacekeeping efforts and humanitarian assistance in the region.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, in a press briefing in New York, confirmed the incident, saying, “Response efforts are underway.” He emphasized the commitment to the safety of all those on board and mentioned that further details would be withheld at this point for security reasons.
Al-Shabaab has been at the forefront of a 16-year insurgency against the fragile central government in Mogadishu. Despite considerable foreign military support, the government has struggled to contain the violence perpetrated by the extremist group. The Somali government has not yet issued a statement regarding the recent incident.
The international community closely watches as efforts are underway to resolve the situation and secure the release of the captured passengers. The incident highlights the complex security challenges faced by those involved in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in the Horn of Africa. Somali Media of Minnesota will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on this critical situation.
