French journalist abducted in Somalia


BOSASSO, Somaliland –

Gunmen in Somalia’s northern
Puntland region kidnapped a French journalist on Sunday, the
area’s deputy governor said.

He had no information on the identity of the reporter or
his media organization, [but the French media identified the victim as Gwen Le Gouil, a cameraman].

“A French journalist has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen,”
Yusuf Mumin Bidde told Reuters. “Puntland security officials
are now meeting on that issue.”

The reporter’s driver told Reuters the attack, by three men
wielding AK-47 rifles, took place some 70 km (45 miles) east of
Puntland’s port town of Bosasso.

“I, with the translator, tried to talk to the gunmen who
demanded a $70,000 ransom,” Omar Ahmed said.

He said it appeared the journalist had contacted the armed
group about a story on Somali migrants being smuggled to Yemen
— but instead he was seized.

France does not have a direct diplomatic presence in
Somalia but a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said it had
been informed of the incident by its embassy in neighboring
Kenya.

“We are doing all we can to gather further information and
follow developments in the situation so that our compatriot can
regain freedom as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.

Known for its relative stability in a country plagued by
lawlessness, semi-autonomous Puntland has become increasingly
associated with kidnappings, hijackings and piracy.

In May two foreign aid workers were seized and later
released after negotiations between their captors and clan
elders, while in October gunmen hijacked a cargo plane carrying
khat, a lucrative narcotic leaf.

(Additional reporting by Nick Antonovics in Paris; Writing
by Katie Nguyen; Editing by Richard Williams)


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