MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Ambrose Kimiti, a Kenyan doctor with a UN medical evacuation team in Somalia, appealed in a video to UN chief António Guterres, President William Ruto, and Kenyans, saying he and his colleagues have been held by Al-Shabaab for over 18 months.
He noted that although they attempted to contact the United Nations after the crash, no assistance or formal negotiations were initiated on their behalf.
“We believed we were serving a humanitarian cause, but the United Nations has failed to work toward securing our freedom,” Kimiti said.
He called on the UN Secretary-General to intervene urgently, stating that the UN bears responsibility for the safety of staff and contractors who are abducted while carrying out their official duties.
Kimiti also appealed to Kenyan President William Ruto to use his influence to help secure their release, and urged the people of Kenya to raise their voices in support of efforts to free them.
Neither the United Nations nor the Kenyan government has issued an official response.
Recently, the Ukrainian pilot who was flying the same helicopter made a similar appeal to the United Nations and the government of Ukraine, asking them to open negotiations with Al-Shabaab to secure their release.