Two French agents kidnapped in Somalia are now both being held by the al-Shabaab Islamist militia, and talks to free them will be difficult, Somali Social Affairs Minister Mohammed Ali Ibrahim told France 24.
Ali Ibrahim added that the kidnapping might be linked to France’s jailing of captured Somali pirates, who he said had relatives in the militia.
Previously, the pair had been separated and held by two groups — al-Shabaab, which is alleged to have ties with al-Qaeda, and Hizb ul-Islam.
”The latest news we have is that al-Shabaab took the man by force this morning, just after midnight,” Ali Ibrahim told the television network.
”Both are with al-Shabaab. As long as they’re withal-Shabaab negotiations will be hard.” — AFP
