Three aid workers — an American, a Pakistani, and a Mozambican — were kidnapped by armed men in Kenya’s border town of Mandera on Friday night. The gunmen reportedly seized the trio from an NGO run guest house where they were watching television with seven other expatriates. The victims were forced into a Land Cruiser and driven across the border into Somalia.

A ‘security guard’ cum ‘private tour guide’ was seriously injured during the incident.

Al Shabaab, the anti-government Islamic fundamentalist group that is holding two kidnapped French security officials, denied involvement in the incident calling it a “cowardly act” before pointing the finger at rival fundamentalist group Hizbul Islam. Al Shabaab’s promise to assist in locating the kidnapped aid workers is far from reassuring, however. It seems that Hizbul Islam, the original kidnappers of the French security officials, turned the pair over to Al Shabaab in order ‘to avert bloodshed’. In turn Al Shabaab has announced that they will try the Frenchmen under Shariah.

Al Shabaab ‘assistance’ in locating the kidnapped aid workers might best be avoided.

Tags: kidnapping, Kenya, Somalia