Al-Shabaab Releases New Video Of KDF Soldier Captured In El-Adde 2016 Attack, Presumed Dead By The Family

The Al-Shabaab group in Somalia released a video of a  Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) serviceman, who was allegedly captured during the El-Adde raid which left dozens of soldiers dead and hundreds of others critically injured.

In their propaganda video, Abdullahi Isse Ibrahim whose kin believed to have been killed is seen in military fatigue, similar to those worn by the Kenya Army of KDF, but the rank cannot be seen. His name is not written on the military fatigue, as is the custom of the KDF for any officer, serviceman, or woman.

The soldier, is heard making a passionate appeal to the government of Kenya to initiate his release, arguing that the eight years he has been in captivity have been tormenting, adding that the release was long overdue.

“I was born in Wajir County in 1963 and joined KDF in 1986,” Abdullahi is heard narrating his ordeal. “I served in the 9th Battalion (Eldoret-based) and came to Somalia in 2016, just 15 days before we were taken in captivity by the Al-Shabaab. “

While confirming he is a war prisoner, he adds: “There has never been a communication from the Kenyan government over our fate. I have not seen my wife and family for all this long and we live at the mercy of our tormentors — Al-Shabaab.”

Although he never mentioned the number of people captured during the deadly attack, he accurately narrates the events leading to the pre-dawn attack on 15th January 2016, targeting a KDF Forward Operating Base in El-Adde within the Gedo region of Somalia.

Family appeal

Believing that he had been killed, his family in Eldoret had given up on seeing him alive and gone ahead to perform death and burial rituals in line with Islamic beliefs.

Speaking to journalists at the Eldoret Maili Nne estate home of the KDG soldier, Ms Katra said the video footage was of her father whom she authoritatively identified.

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Kin believe KDF soldier abducted by Al Shabaab alive, after seeing video

She said her mother suffered a stroke after their father went missing and has remained in a coma since then.

Ms Katra said during the conversation with her father, she asked him to request his abductors to send the family his current video, to which he promised that his abductors were going to send the video through their media.

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She insists that she identified the voice as her father and went on to request him to request his abductors to send the family either his recent photo or video to enable them to start a journey of finding him help.

Ms Katra said true to their promise, the al-Shabaab abductors had posted the video through an X page perceived to belong to them.

Following the video, the family says it strongly believes that their kin is still alive contrary to their prior belief that he was killed by the militia.

Ms Katra said from the conversation with her father, it was clear that he was a desperate person in need of help.

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The family is now pleading with the Kenya government to intervene and ensure the release of the abducted man.

“My appeal to the President as a father and commander in chief of the armed forces is to kindly help us to bring our father home,” appealed Ms Katra.

The militants ran riot in the El-Adde camp, killing over 200 soldiers while injuring others. Only a few survivors were rescued as Al-Shabaab captured others alive and their whereabouts remain a mystery. KDF and the Kenyan government have never given an accurate report on what might have transpired.

The El-Adde attack was the worst-ever defeat to KDF soldiers serving in peacekeeping missions, with the Kulbiyow raid a year later within Somalia, also claiming 70 soldiers. Since then, KDF has liberated several strategic towns in Somalia besides neutralizing many militants in the process both in Jubaland and within the border.

Kenya started withdrawing its troops from the country in April 2022, and last year, then Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told the National Assembly that the last troops would leave by December 31, 2024.