Silvia Romano, the 25 year old Italian aid worker who was kidnapped by suspected Al Shabaab militia in Kilifi county in 2018, has been freed.

Ms. Romano was reportedly released on Saturday, following interventions from the Italian, Turkish and Somali governments.

She was received by her parents and sister, and Italy’s prime minister and foreign minister when she landed in Rome.

Silvia Romano, who was at the time a volunteer at Africa Milele Onlus, an NGO operating in the area, was abducted in November 2018, after armed gunmen raided a shopping center at Chakama, Kilifi county (about 80 kilometers west of Malindi town) and abducted the then 23-year old Italian woman.

Five other people were left injured during the incident, including a 10-year-old boy, who was shot in the left eye.

CUBAN DOCTORS ABDUCTED IN MANDERA

In April last year, Two Cuban doctors, Dr Herrera Correa and Dr Landy Rodriguez ,were also abducted by suspected Al Shabaab militants in Mandera County.

A week after the abduction of the two doctors, the government withdrew all Cuban doctors deployed in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties.

GOVERNMENT WITHDRAWS CUBAN DOCTORS FROM NORTH EASTERN KENYA