Monday 7,April 2025 {HMC} The five Kenyan chiefs who were abducted by suspected Al-Shabaab militia in February while going for a security meeting to plan for President William Ruto’s tour have been released.

The five were released on Sunday evening, after being dropped by unknown men following what local authorities reported were successful negotiations between the elders from the region and the militants.

The five had been held captive in neighbouring Somalia for the last two months following their abduction while on their way from Wargadud to Elwak Town.

The chiefs were from the administrative units of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole and were aboard a vehicle at the time of the incident.

At the time of the incident, the vehicle ferrying the chiefs to Elwak was hijacked between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki in Mandera South.

The government has been in active efforts through the local elders to rescue the administrative officers whose abduction became a national security concern following the circumstances under which they were captured.

Following the incident, President Ruto, while on tour in Mandera, issued stern directives to national security agencies to ensure that the five were found.

Speaking at Moi Stadium in Mandera County on February 4 during his work tour, the president also fired a salvo at the al-Shabaab insurgents after they bypassed security checkpoints and gained entrance into the country.

”We will deal with the terrorists, and that is why I have come with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, to say that no matter what happens, that issue must be promptly addressed,” Ruto asserted in his address.

According to the head of state, the insurgents chose to abduct the administrators because of the effort that Kenyan multiagency security teams had shown against them in the region.

Kenya is currently on alert following the renewed efforts of the Al-Shabaab militants in neighbouring Somalia and along the borders of Kenya.

On Saturday, suspected Al-Shabaab militants ambushed a GSU camp in the Basuba area of Boni Forest, launching two rocket-propelled grenades during the attack.

In response, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers, working alongside General Service Unit (GSU) personnel, launched a manhunt for the attackers as part of ongoing efforts to secure the region.

Monday 7,April 2025 {HMC} Former Somali National Army (SNA) commander General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyiddin has expressed grave concern that the al-Shabaab militant group may have infiltrated into the Somali military, following the assassination of Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nur Mohamed Gaabow, known as Nur Farey.

“We are in a difficult time where there is no clear distinction between the enemy and the army. The enemy is hiding within the ranks of the army in every form,” said Gen. Muhyiddin, calling the killing of the commander both regrettable and a sign of institutional neglect.

He noted that the slain commander, who was killed in Ado-Diidible between Afgooye and Laanta Buure, was known for his trust in his troops.

Gen. Muhyiddin explained that Nur Farey had sidelined his most trusted guards to meet with soldiers who had grievances—one of whom may have been the gunman.

Despite raising concerns about infiltration, Muhyiddin clarified that it remains unclear whether the shooter was a member of the Somali army or an al-Shabaab infiltrator in military uniform.

Military officials confirmed that the commander was shot at close range during a routine inspection ahead of a major offensive against al-Shabaab.

HOL could not independently verify allegations of al-Shabaab infiltration into the Somali National Army.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the killing and confirmed that a full investigation is underway to determine who was behind the attack and whether it involved an inside threat or an al-Shabaab operative.

Monday 7,April 2025 {HMC} Three Ethiopian men from the Oromo ethnic group, who were members of the ISIS militant group, surrendered to Puntland regional state security forces in the Al-Miskaat Mountains on Sunday, according to Puntland authorities.

The men approached villagers in the Al-Khalifa Mountains, stating they had escaped from ISIS and wanted to surrender.

General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed (Faadhigo), spokesman for the Al-Miskaat operation, said the men appeared to have been forcibly recruited into ISIS and had seized an opportunity to flee. They were transferred to the Buruc area and will be taken to Bosaso for further investigation by criminal authorities.

“These white men in the group, wherever they come from, are international men. They are not easy to surrender, and it is easier to kill. That is what distinguishes them from the Ethiopians,” General Faadhigo remarked.

He also confirmed that key ISIS positions in the Al-Miskaat Mountains had been destroyed through airstrikes by international partners. In previously held ISIS areas, security forces discovered mass graves believed to contain the remains of ISIS fighters.

General Faadhigo added that remaining ISIS members in the Togga Miraale area are fleeing and under surveillance. He did not disclose their current whereabouts.

Monday 7,April 2025 {HMC} Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan addressed Saturday efforts to restore the Gaza ceasefire agreement and ensure the implementation of its three phases.

During the phone call — part of the ongoing communication between both countries and the broader Arab-Islamic efforts to halt the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip — the top diplomats addressed the situation in Gaza, stressing the importance of releasing the captives and prisoners and the entry of humanitarian, medical, and shelter aid.

On 18 March, Israel renewed its genocidal war on Gaza — unilaterally ending the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US — killing over 1,300 Palestinians and injuring more than 3,000 others, mostly women and children.

Earlier, on 2 March, Israel reinforced its deadly blockade on the strip, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and nutritional supplements, which poses a severe threat to the Palestinian population, especially children, and could lead to catastrophic outcomes.

During the call, Abdelatty and Fidan touched on the violent Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, which killed 100 Palestinians, including at least 17 children, and left dozens more injured.

Since 21 January, Israeli forces have launched a wide-scale military offensive in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus.

The Israeli occupation forces displaced over 50,000 people and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Egypt strongly condemned the escalating Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank, maintaining its diplomatic efforts, along with Qatar and the US, to help restore the Gaza ceasefire deal immediately and comprehensively.

Regional crises

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the call also addressed developments in Sudan, where both ministers emphasized the necessity of exerting efforts to support Sudanese national institutions.

During the call, FM Abdelatty highlighted Cairo’s ongoing efforts to restore stability and peace in Sudan, reaffirming Egypt’s stance calling for the respect of Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

They also touched on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea situation, exploring ways to achieve Somalia’s security and stability and preserve its unity and territorial integrity.

Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s ongoing support for Somalia’s efforts in combating terrorism and enhancing the capabilities of the Somali National Army.

He also reiterated Cairo’s rejection of any non-littoral state’s participation in the Red Sea governance and security arrangements.