MOGADISHU, Somalia – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a fresh appeal for the safe release of Sonja Nientiet, a German nurse abducted in Mogadishu in May 2018, after a new video of her surfaced on social media Thursday.
The Geneva-based humanitarian organization urged her captors to free her, recalling that Nientiet was taken from ICRC offices by armed men who forced their way in through a back door.
The newly circulated video has reignited concerns over her wellbeing after nearly seven years in captivity. The ICRC emphasized the importance of her immediate and unconditional release, stressing that humanitarian workers must be protected in conflict zones.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for her abduction, and it remains unclear who is holding her. The ICRC has repeatedly called for her freedom, but previous efforts have not secured her release.
Nientiet’s case highlights the dangers faced by aid workers in Somalia, where armed groups frequently target both local and international humanitarian staff.
The Swiss government, which supports the ICRC’s operations, has also been involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation. However, details about ongoing negotiations remain confidential. The ICRC has urged anyone with influence over her captors to facilitate her safe return to her family.
