Radical Islamist group captures UN helicopter passengers in Somalia | Africa

Al-Shabab militants captured a United Nations helicopter in Somalia this Wednesday carrying two Somali men and several foreigners when it made an emergency landing in an area controlled by the radical Islamist group.

The aircraft encountered a defect shortly after taking off from the town of Beledweyne in central Somalia, Major Hassan Ali told Reuters, before landing near the village of Hindhere, on the border with the Galguduud region.

“Two Somali men and several foreigners were on board. It was also carrying medical supplies and was supposed to transport injured soldiers from the Galguduud region,” he added.

A UN official who wished to remain anonymous said the plane belonged to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and that the crew included five foreigners.

Two UN sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the plane was carrying nine passengers.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the identities of those captured or their nationalities.

Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in an attempt to establish its own government based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Although the government has managed to drive the militants out of several territories since the mid-2010s, the Islamist group controls vast areas in southern and central Somalia and continues to attack civilians and military establishments.