"These abductions were reportedly carried out by al-Shabaab
...... the personification of Somali state failure..., but the reasons remain unknown," OCHA said in its latest humanitarian access update issued in Mogadishu.
In response to these incidents, local elders took the initiative to negotiate to secure the safe release of the kidnapped workers and five of them have so far been released under undisclosed terms and circumstances, OCHA said, noting the second quarter saw a significant decline in movement restrictions as a reported access constraint.
According to OCHA, movement restrictions were imposed for several reasons including military operations, bureaucratic impediments, interference, politically driven decisions, and internal security concerns among humanitarian agencies.
OCHA said the most reported access constraint during the reporting period was interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities.