Somali’s al-Qaida linked militant group, Al-Shabaab has released two Cuban doctors who were abducted in Mandera County and crossed over to Somali.
The two Cuban doctors Landy Rodriguez and Herera Correa, were kidnapped in broad daylight in April 2019.
Their official vehicles which were under police escort were ambushed by the gunmen.
The abduction saw one of the police officers guarding them killed in the fierce shootout with the militia who sped off with the doctors.
The two doctors were being escorted to work when two salon cars blocked their way in the ambush.
The Associated Press reported that a senior Somali intelligence official intimated that the two Cuban doctors were finally let go over the weekend more than a year after their abduction.
Negotiations has been going on for months as the abductors demanded a ransom of $1.5 million.
It is not yet clear is the ransom was paid or how the negotiations to secure their freedom went on.
However, the Somali official added, the Cuban government was highly involved in the release of the two doctors after a video of them in their holding areas was sent out.
Bruno Rodríguez, Cuba’s foreign minister, in a social media post confirmed their release and thanked the Somali government for its help.
The Kenyan government, however, denied having knowledge of the two doctors being released saying that it will issue a statement once it gets full information.
