Africom denies killing two missing Cuban doctors in Somalia airstrike

The US Africa Command (Africom) has denied killing two Cuban Doctors in an airstrike within Jilib Town in Somalia early this year.

According to its Civilian Casualty Quarterly Report ending March 31, the airstrike did not claim any casualty.

"On February 17, 2024, the command reviewed one report from an online media source stating that two civilians were killed as a result of a US military operation in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on February 15, 2024. The command completed a review of available I formation and assessed that the US airstrike conducted on February 15, 2024, did not result in civilian harm," the report says.

What happened

The two doctors, Assel Herrera and Landy Rodríguez Hernández, were stationed at the Mandera County Referral Hospital when they were kidnapped on April 12, 2019.

Multiple attempts by security agencies to have them rescued failed and their whereabouts remained unknown until February this year, when the Al-Shabaab militant group alarmingly claimed they were killed in "multiple drone strikes" in the southern Somali city of Jilib on February 15, allegations which could not be independently verified immediately.

At the time, Africom only confirmed in a statement that an air strike had indeed been conducted against the Al-Shabaab network near Jilib but added that it was not aware that it had killed two civilians.

"We do not have any further information at this time about these reports, but we do take all claims of civilian casualties seriously," it said.

The claims triggered a series of movements between Cuba and Kenya by senior Cuban government officials in search of answers on the whereabouts of their citizens.

The delegation met President William Ruto and senior security officials before heading back home after a week of engagements. They confirmed receiving sensitive information on the matter but did not divulge the details.

"I thank the Government of Kenya for its cooperation in obtaining sensitive information that helps advance the still limited clarification of the current situation of Cuban doctors Assel Herrera and Rodrigues Hernandez," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriquez said in a post on X.

Another statement from the ministry said the information was being processed by authorities in charge of closely monitoring such an important investigation.

"Meanwhile, efforts continue with various governments and international actors in search of cooperation and greater clarification."

Whereabouts still unknown

The new revelation by Africom ignites questions on the whereabouts of the two doctors who were kidnapped as one of their escort personnel, Constable Mutundo Kitambo, was killed.

Their driver, Issack Ibrein Robow, then a government employee attached to Mandera County, was found guilty of facilitating the incident and thereby committing a terrorist act.

He was charged with the commission of a terrorist act, kidnapping and hostage, obtaining registration by false pretences, and being in Kenya unlawfully, respectively.

In the quarterly civilian harm assessment report period ending March 31, 2024, the Command said it received four new reports of civilian harm, with no open reports carried over from previous quarters.

Other than the one highlighted, the other completed assessments were as follows;

On January 25, 2024, the command received one report from an online media source stating multiple civilians were killed as a result of a US military operation in the vicinity of Galhareri, Somalia, on Jan. 24, 2024.

"USAfricom completed a review of all available information and determined that there were no US military operations at the time and place reported," the report says.

On February 22, 2024, the command received another report from a social media source stating that a US airstrike injured a mother and three children in Kurtunwaarey, Lower Shabelle, Somalia.

"The social media source also attributed "material damage" to a separate US airstrike in Galgudeed, Somalia. The command completed a review of all available information and determined that there were no US military operations at the times and places reported," the report adds.