Unknown shooters kidnap five UN officials from Abyan, Yemen’s south-western province.
Aden: Five United Nations Organization staff members were kidnapped in Yemen’s turbulent southern province of Abyan, a UN official said Saturday.
Russell Geekie, the Senior Communications Advisor to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen and the United Nations, stated that “the UN staff members were returning in Aden upon completing a field visit”, Xinhua news agency said.
“The United Nations is in constant contact with the authorities to ensure the release of those detained,” he said.
In addition, local media reported that unidentified shooters believed to be part of Yemen’s al-Qaida branch seized a UN vehicle in the Mudiyah district, which lies east of Abyan province.
According to news reports, the shooters abducted several UN employees and then led them to an unidentified area.
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At this point, nobody has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
A Yemeni-based al-Qaida within the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network that mainly operates in the southern and eastern provinces is responsible for several high-profile attacks against the country’s security forces over the years.
The AQAP has profited from years of bloody tensions between the Yemeni regime and Houthi militia to increase its reach in crucial areas of the devastating Arab country.
A Saudi-led military alliance has been fighting an all-Iran-aligned Houthi rebel group from Yemen since 2015.
It intervened in Yemen’s civil war in 2015 following the Houthis removing the ruling government from the capital city, Sanaa.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, forced millions to relocate, and caused devastating human suffering.
Eric is a professional news editor, writer, and blogger for the last 10 years. He is working with NewsGater as an off-beat news editor cum writer.