Kidnapped UN staffer freed

A UN staff member, who was kidnapped by gunmen in the Somali capital Mogadishu last month, was released at the weekend, according to a UN statement.

"We all welcome the release of our colleague, Prof Abukar, who was abducted while carrying out his duties as a staff member of the United Nations," said the statement, issued on Saturday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). "The UN strongly condemns attacks on humanitarian personnel, and calls upon all parties in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of its staff."

"The sort of ordeal Prof Abukar was forced to endure is unacceptable," Max Gaylard, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, was quoted as saying.

Prof Muhammad Ali Abukar was abducted by gunmen while travelling in a bus from his office to his home in the Medina district of southwest Mogadishu. Abukar, who suffers from high blood pressure and was denied access to medical help by his captors, was "physically and emotionally exhausted", but otherwise "is doing fine", a family friend told IRIN on Monday.

Almost two weeks after his abduction, the UN announced that it was suspending all activities in Mogadishu, with effect from Tuesday 9 May.

Abukar, a former professor of economics at the Somali National University, is currently the coordinator for a UNDP capacity building programme in Mogadishu. The programme supports governance and civil society organisations. It is one of several humanitarian projects undertaken in Mogadishu by UN agencies, including interventions in health, water and sanitation, education, and the training of teachers, the UN statement said.