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| Catra Abdulahi Issa Ibrahim and CIPK Northrift Chairman Abubakar Bini displaying her father's photos |
By Wasike Elvis
The family of Abdullahi Issa Mohamed, a Kenyan soldier who was captured by Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia nearly eight years ago, has made an emotional plea to the government for his safe return after a recent video surfaced showing him alive and seeking help. This unexpected development has reignited hope among his family members, who have lived in uncertainty and despair since his abduction.
Abdullahi Issa Mohamed, a dedicated member of the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF), was kidnapped on January 15, 2016, while serving as part of the ninth battalion deployed in the El Adde area of Somalia. His unit had been sent to the region as part of Kenya’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the volatile Horn of Africa and combat the growing threat of Al-Shabaab militants. Unfortunately, just two weeks into his deployment, Issa and his comrades were ambushed, and he was taken hostage by the extremists.
For six years, Issa’s family had no communication or information about his whereabouts, leading them to believe the worst. During this time, they fought a painful battle with uncertainty, hoping for any news or signs of his survival. They were forced to make difficult decisions, even holding a memorial in honor of Issa after losing all contact with him. Despite relentless efforts to locate him, the family was left in the dark, unable to receive any updates from the government or military.
However, the situation took a surprising turn last month when Issa’s son, Abdullahi Issa Abdullahi, received an unexpected phone call from a strange number in Somalia. The voice on the other end of the line identified itself as that of his father. At first, the family was stunned and confused, not knowing what to make of the call. The man, whom they had feared to be lost forever, sounded desperate and in a state of distress. “He sounded like a desperate man who needed help,” Abdullahi Issa Abdullahi explained. “He expressed feelings of abandonment, as if he had been left to suffer in isolation.”
The family’s shock deepened when Issa shared the troubling details of his captivity. He revealed that Al-Shabaab was willing to negotiate his release but only through official channels, refusing to communicate directly with his family. Despite the initial disbelief, the family clung to hope that the government would intervene and secure his return. Soon after the phone call, they received a video message from Issa, providing irrefutable proof that he was indeed alive. The footage showed Issa in captivity, pleading for assistance.
Catra Abdulahi Issa Ibrahim, Issa’s daughter, expressed the immense emotional and physical toll that the years of uncertainty have had on the family. The absence of their father has been a source of constant pain, particularly for their mother, who developed high blood pressure due to the stress. “Ever since my father disappeared, our mother’s health has been deteriorating,” Catra said. “She has been in and out of the hospital, struggling to cope with the constant worry.” Tragically, the strain also took the life of one of Catra’s brothers, who succumbed to depression, unable to endure the emotional weight of not knowing his father’s fate. “We’ve been living as orphans, and for the last eight years, it has felt like we had lost everything. We were completely in the dark, unable to do anything but wait and hope,” Catra added.
The family’s plea for help has found a voice in their local community, with many expressing their support and solidarity. Sheik Abudkadir, a local leader, expressed his joy upon learning that Issa was still alive and called for immediate action from the Kenyan government. “I am happy to see that the person we thought we had buried is alive,” Sheik Abudkadir said. “I urge President William Ruto and the Kenyan government to intervene and ensure that Abdullahi Issa Mohamed is brought back home.”
Echoing these sentiments, Sheik Abubakar Bini, the Chairman of the North Rift Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), also called on the government to act swiftly. He highlighted the suffering the family had endured over the years and the emotional toll it had taken on their lives. “This family has been living in pain for the last eight years, not knowing if their loved one was alive or dead,” Sheik Bini stated. “It is the responsibility of the government, under the leadership of President William Ruto, to act on behalf of the family and negotiate with Al-Shabaab to bring Abdullahi Issa Mohamed home.”
The government’s intervention has become more urgent in light of the fact that Al-Shabaab is still holding other Kenyan soldiers captive. Reports indicate that at least six other soldiers are being held by the militants in the region. The prolonged captivity of Issa, along with the plight of other Kenyan soldiers, underscores the ongoing challenges that Kenya faces in its efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of its personnel deployed abroad.
While the family remains hopeful that the Kenyan government will take swift action to negotiate Issa’s release, they also acknowledge the complex and sensitive nature of such negotiations. The militants have made it clear that they are willing to engage with the government but will not communicate with the family directly, leaving the relatives feeling helpless in their own fight to bring their loved one home.
For now, the family’s focus is on getting Issa back to Kenya. They have appealed to President William Ruto and Defense Minister Soipan Tuya to facilitate the negotiations for his release. As they await the government’s response, they continue to hold on to the hope that the time will come when they will finally be reunited with their father after nearly a decade of heart-wrenching uncertainty.
The situation serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by Kenyan soldiers serving in international peacekeeping missions, particularly in volatile regions like Somalia. Despite the challenges, the family remains committed to finding a resolution, hoping that their long journey of pain will soon come to an end.