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The chiefs, kidnapped Sunday while en route to a security meeting in Elwak, Mandera County, were released hours later in Somalia; Meanwhile, Mogadishu endures a second day of deadly mortar shelling
Five Kenyan chiefs who were abducted on Sunday morning in Elwak Town, Mandera County, have been released, Kenyan authorities have confirmed. The chiefs were reportedly taken across the border into Somalia by suspected Al-Shabaab militants but were freed later the same day.
The abducted officials—Chiefs Mohamed Adawa, Mohamed Hassan, Abdi Hassan, Mohamed Noor Hache, and Assistant Chief Ibrahim Gabow—were heading to a meeting with the Elwak Deputy County Commissioner to prepare for President William Ruto’s upcoming visit to the region when unidentified individuals seized them.
Though the chiefs have now been freed, they remain in Somalia, and negotiations for their safe return to Kenya are reportedly ongoing. It is still unclear how or why they were released, and authorities have not confirmed whether the incident involved a ransom or mediation effort.
Their brief captivity highlights the persistent security threats facing Kenya’s northeastern border, where cross-border incursions by Al-Shabaab militants remain a serious concern. Communities in Mandera and nearby towns have long called for enhanced security to protect both civilians and government officials operating in these high-risk areas.
While Kenya was dealing with the shock of the abductions, Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, was reeling from a second day of violence. Early Sunday morning, suspected Al-Shabaab militants launched six mortar shells aimed at the Aden Adde International Airport and the nearby Halane compound, which hosts African Union forces, UN offices, and foreign embassies.
Two of the mortar rounds missed their targets and landed in the Kaawa Godey neighborhood, a densely populated residential area near the airport. Local sources confirmed that a woman and a young boy were injured in the explosion.
“One of the mortar shells fell in Kaawa Godey this morning, injuring a woman from among the residents. I was also told that another boy was injured,” a resident told local media.
The attack followed a similar assault on Saturday, when mortar shells hit Warta Nabada and Boondheere districts, injuring at least six people, including Gurey, a staff member at the National Theater of Somalia. The repeated attacks have heightened fears among Mogadishu residents, many of whom worry about the group’s growing boldness in targeting even the most heavily fortified areas.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, Al-Shabaab is suspected, given the group’s history of using indirect fire to strike key installations and spread terror. The militants have previously launched similar attacks on the Mogadishu airport, the Halane base, and Villa Somalia—the seat of the Somali presidency.
Security experts say these incidents are part of a broader pattern of increasing aggression by Al-Shabaab, which continues to pose a serious threat to regional peace despite sustained military pressure.
The simultaneous mortar attacks and abduction of government officials across the border underscore the need for closer cooperation between Kenya and Somalia in fighting terrorism. Communities affected by the violence are calling on both governments to improve intelligence sharing, increase military patrols, and enhance protection for public officials and civilians.
“These are not just security threats—they are humanitarian concerns,” said a resident of Mandera. “We need more than just statements; we need action.”
As investigations into the mortar attacks and the chiefs’ abduction continue, both countries remain on high alert, working to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of their citizens.