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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, stated today that "efforts continue" to clarify the situation of the Cuban doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández, who were kidnapped in Kenya by the Somali jihadist group Al Shabab in 2019.
The regime official recalled on the social media platform X that this Saturday marks six years since the abduction of the doctors and asserted that the quest for answers is "under the constant attention and commitment of the highest level of the Party and the Government of Cuba."
However, it did not clarify what actions have been taken or what route has been followed to shed light on the events, after the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) attacked the jihadist group Al Shabab in 2024 in the area where the Cubans were allegedly held captive.
A report from the official media Prensa Latina once again presented a argument used in 2024 to blame the U.S. government for the lack of clarity surrounding the situation of the doctors who were kidnapped in the city of Mandera, at the border with Somalia.
In the article, the U.S. was accused of not responding "with the urgency or seriousness required" following the request for information about the doctors after an attack that occurred on the night of February 15 by the U.S. Africa Command in the area where the Cuban doctors were located.
According to the regime, the U.S. government confirmed that an attack took place in the area where Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández were present, but without a precise clarification regarding the location.
In 2024, in the quarterly report on civilian casualty assessments, AFRICOM acknowledged a bombing near Jilib, Somalia, but insisted that the attack did not result in civilian casualties, not specifically mentioning the Cuban doctors.
The Cuban government continues to push its narrative of blaming the U.S. in order to divert attention from its lack of transparency and effective management in this case. Since the kidnapping of the doctors, the regime's response has been ineffective and characterized by misinformation.
Cuban doctors in their labyrinth
The doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández were kidnapped on April 12, 2019, in Mandera, Kenya.
That day, they were traveling, as was their custom, in a convoy to the Mandera hospital protected by armed escorts, when they were intercepted following a shooting in which one of the police officers guarding their safety was killed. The driver of the vehicle that transported them was convicted in Kenya after his complicity in the attack was proven.
In May 2019, traditional leaders from Kenya and Somalia reported seeing Cuban doctors providing services in the Somali region of Jubaland, controlled by Al Shabab. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 1.5 million dollars for the release of the doctors.
The contingent of Cuban doctors, to which Herrera and Rodríguez belonged, was sent to Kenya in 2018 as part of a bilateral agreement to improve access to specialized healthcare services in the African country.
The United States has conducted several military operations against Al Shabab in cooperation with the Somali army since 2007.
The president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, announced a “total war” against jihadists in August 2022, which intensified AFRICOM’s airstrikes against the terrorist group, affiliated with Al Qaeda since 2012.
Frequently asked questions about the kidnapping of Cuban doctors in Kenya and the response from the Cuban regime
What is known about the kidnapping of Cuban doctors in Kenya?
Cuban doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández were kidnapped in Kenya in 2019 by the Somali jihadist group Al Shabab. They were intercepted while traveling to the Mandera hospital, guarded by armed escorts. Since then, the Cuban regime has claimed that it continues its efforts to clarify their situation, but has not provided specific details about its actions.
How has the Cuban regime responded to the kidnapping of the doctors?
The Cuban regime has maintained a narrative that it continues efforts to clarify the situation of the kidnapped doctors. However, it has not provided specific details about the actions taken or concrete results. Additionally, it has attempted to divert attention by blaming the United States for the lack of clear information regarding the case.
What role has the United States played in this case?
The United States has been accused by the Cuban regime of being responsible for the lack of clarity regarding the situation of the doctors due to an attack by the Africa Command in the area where the medical professionals were located. However, Washington has confirmed an attack near Jilib, Somalia, with no civilian casualties. The Cuban regime has used this argument to divert attention from its own ineffective management.
What has been the international response to the kidnapping of the Cuban doctors?
The international community has expressed its concern over the kidnapping of Cuban doctors, although there has not been any significant coordinated action to resolve the case. U.S. military operations in the region have continued, but they have not specifically focused on rescuing the Cuban doctors. The case remains a point of tension in the relations between Cuba and the United States.
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