Somali Government Searches For UN Helicopter Crew And Passengers Who Made Emergency Landing

Illustration of a UN helicopter. (Wikimedia Commons/MONUSCO Photos)

JAKARTA - The Somali government is trying to save UN helicopter passengers suspected of being arrested by Al-Shabaab militants, a spokesman said on Thursday, while the military thinks it will be difficult to access the area where they were brought in.

The UN-contracted helicopter was carrying out a medical evacuation by air, when technical issues forced it to make an emergency landing near Hindhere Village, central Somalia, an area controlled by militant groups.

Two Somali men and several foreigners were on board, and many of them were held hostage by militants, two officers told Reuters.

However, it is unclear how many were arrested and whether anyone managed to escape.

"The government has been making efforts to save the crew since yesterday, when the accident occurred, and efforts are still ongoing," said Information Minister Daud Aweis, although he did not provide other details.

Meanwhile, Colonel Abdullahi Isse, based in Adado City, about 100 km (60 miles) north of Hindhere, said troops in the area had no plans to launch a rescue mission.

"No troops rescued them. I'm not sure they will run away," he said.

"The area has been controlled by Al-Shabaab for more than ten years. Even the residents there are pro Al-Shabaab," he continued.

Major Hassan Ali, who is based in Beledweyne City, where the helicopter takes off, said ground operations were unlikely.

"I don't know if there will be a command force on the plane with the help of foreigners. That may be the only possible way to save them, but so far it hasn't happened yet," he explained.

On Wednesday evening, the United Nations World Food Program, Somalia's largest humanitarian operator, said the helicopters did not belong to them or the UN's Humanitarian Air Service and none of its personnel were on board.

Earlier, the United Nations (UN) said in a brief statement on Wednesday that "exemptive efforts" were underway.

Al-Shabaab, which is an Al Qaeda affiliate, has waged an uprising against the Somali government since 2006, in an attempt to form its own government based on a rigorous Islamic interpretation.

The group has thousands of members, mostly at their headquarters in the middle and south of the country. Government attacks since 2022 have managed to retake several areas in central Somalia, but the campaign experienced a significant setback last year.