Humanitarian workers murdered in Somalia: investigators on the ground

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In Somalia, a commission of inquiry began its work on Saturday, May 30, to shed light on the murder of seven aid workers and a merchant. Their bodies were found Thursday, about thirty kilometers north of the capital, Mogadishu. This assassination was not claimed, but it shocked the country.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Nairobi,   Sébastien Németh

Investigators have started to go to the field. Several regional ministers, the police chief, the governor and a deputy compose this commission which will work under pressure.

The president of the Hirshabelle region where the eight victims were killed, declared "  to make it a personal affair  ". Mohamed Abdi Waare is himself a former employee of the Red Cross.

On Wednesday May 27, armed men arrived in the village of Galoley. Masked but wearing army uniforms, they kidnapped seven employees of the NGO Zamzam, specializing in health and education, as well as a trader.

According to witnesses, they blindfolded them and tied their hands behind their backs. Their bodies were found the next day, with a bullet in the head and one in the heart.

In response, residents demonstrated with red bandanas to demand justice. Humanitarian agencies, the UN, the government and the European Union have all condemned.

Nobody claimed. The kidnapping occurred just after a bomb exploded that killed nine soldiers in the area. Some therefore see a link and accuse the army of reprisals. The Regional Commissioner, on the other hand, denied any revenge and pointed the finger at the Shebab terrorists.

Islamists have already killed aid workers, but this is rare. They are in the habit of demanding their targeted assassinations but this time, they remain silent.

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• Somalia
• Humanitarian