The government of Somalia is actively engaged in efforts to rescue individuals aboard a UN helicopter that was seized by al Shabaab militants, according to a spokesperson on Thursday.
The helicopter, contracted by the UN, was conducting an air medical evacuation when it experienced technical issues, resulting in an emergency landing near Hindhere village in central Somalia—a region under the control of the militant group.
Sources indicate that among those on board were two Somali nationals and several foreigners, some of whom were taken hostage by the militants. The exact number of captives and any potential escapes remain unclear.
“The government has been undertaking efforts to rescue the crew since yesterday when the accident happened, and efforts still go on,” Information Minister Daud Aweis told media.
He did not provide any other details.
Colonel Abdullahi Isse, based in Adado, emphasized that no forces had been dispatched for a rescue mission. He cited the longstanding control of the region by al Shabaab, indicating low probability for the hostages to escape.
Major Hassan Ali, stationed in Beledweyne, noted the impracticality of a land-based operation and suggested the possibility of commandos on planes with foreign assistance as the potential means for a rescue.
The United Nations released a brief statement on Wednesday, confirming ongoing “response efforts,” while a spokesperson for the UN mission in Somalia was not available for comment on Thursday.
Al Shabaab, an affiliate of al Qaeda, has been conducting an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006. Despite government offensives regaining some territory in central Somalia since 2022, the militant group remains a formidable force, particularly in the central and southern regions.
Late on Wednesday, the UN World Food Programme clarified that the seized helicopter did not belong to them or the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service, and none of their personnel were on board.
As a precautionary measure, all WFP flights in the area have been temporarily suspended, as announced on the social media platform X.
