Somalia - hostages

French hostages split between two Islamist groups

Article published on the 2009-07-16 Latest update 2009-07-17 08:25 TU

Peacekeepers patrol the streets of Mogadishu
(Credit:reuters)

Two French agents kidnapped earlier this week in Somalia have been split up and are being held by separate Islamist groups in Mogadishu. According to the Somali government, the Islamist group Hezb al-Islam has handed over one of the two hostages to the Al Shabaab group, which is believed to have links with Al-Qaeda.

 

The French Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the two men, who were captured on Monday, were working alongside the Somali government.

Somali government spokesperson Abdulkader Walayo says that the capture is part of the rebel groups conflict with the government.

"Since May, they were fighting with the government, they are trying to hurt the government and whatsoever because these people [French hostages] were guests from the Somali government," he told RFI.

Walayo says that the groups' demands are still not clear.

"They said nothing about what they are intending for but so far they haven't asked for any ransom.

"We can assume that they are in parts controlled by these groups."