MSF “completely dissociates itself” from the attacks against Al-Shabaab in Somalia

Barcelona (ACN).- The NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders – MSF) has nothing to do with the attacks against the Al-Shabaab group in Southern Somalia. MSF Chairman in Spain, José Antonio Bastos, stated at a press conference in Barcelona on Tuesday afternoon, that “MSF has completely dissociated itself from all kind of armed action started because of the kidnapping”. In addition, MSF has dissociated itself from “any statement or presumption of responsibility related with this case”. Bastos read an MSF official statement to the press. “The medical-humanitarian organisation is very worried because any use of violence that someone might want to relate to the kidnapping could put the safety and freedom” of the two aid workers kidnapped in danger. One of the kidnapped women is Catalan, and the other is from Madrid. The two MSF workers were kidnapped last Thursday on their way to the Dabaab refugee camps, in Kenya, where they were working building a new health centre. The Kenyan police stated the same day of the kidnapping that they believed that the Al-Shabaab group (linked to Al-Qaeda) were responsible. However, the Islamic militia denied any responsibility in the action. MSF has always insisted that they do not have “any truthful information” on who the kidnappers might be, neither what their objectives might be.

The Kenyan army launched an attack in Southern Somalia against the Al-Shabaab militia with the excuse of looking for the kidnappers. In light of the attacks, MSF wanted to clarify its stance and point out that it has nothing to do with these attacks or any other attacks in the area. The Kenyan Government insists Al-Shabaab is behind the kidnapping. MSF repeated today that they do not have “any truthful information” on the identity or the objectives of the kidnappers of Montserrat Serra, from the Catalan town of Palafrugell (in the Costa Brava), and Blanca Thiebaut, from Madrid.