Africa- Somali/Kenya- Somali Government asks Kenyan help in tracking down kidnappers of Italian Nuns

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Reuters AlertNet 11/11/08; Reuters AlertNet 11/11/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

In the incident involving two Italian nuns kidnapped in a raid by militants, the Somali government has asked Kenya to help them track down militants, saying they would welcome a Kenyan party, if it were sent to help them.

In another blatant attack on aid workers, and a Catholic target, Somali gunmen recently kidnapped two Italian Nuns, in the northern part of politically unstable Kenya, which has large portions of its population saturated with Ethnic Somalis.

The Somali Government usually points to Islamic rebels as the source of attacks- but some Islamic sources claim it is in fact conducted by the government to discredit them. The actual attack involved sporadic gunfire, and the launching of a rocket into a police position by gunmen who fled across the border. The Kenyan authorities have enlisted the help of Somali elders, while the Somali government, crippled by a failed economy, and civil war- also cannot seem to prevent what is almost inevitable. Many aid workers are kidnapped and killed by Somali gunmen, specifically targeted for whatever purpose this is so.

Meanwhile, Somali Pirates have captured another international cargo ship off the Somali coast. 10 EU Nations recently signed a deal into effect, that will soon see at least 4 to 6 ships patrolling the coast at any time, and the use of possible surveillance aircraft. Over half of the world's ship hijackings took place in Somali territories last year. These EU Nations want to secure the well-traveled maritime path for commercial shipping lines to safely use in commerce.