- Two aid workers of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) - Mercedes Garcia and Pilar Bouzawere at last freed by their kidnappers in Puntland region, Somalia's Northern part.
The women, who work for the Spanish branch of MSF have since been sheltered in a hotel in Bosasso, the commercial capital of Puntland.
The Spanish doctor and Argentinian nurse were abducted by gunmen in a Somali port on December 26 as they were driving to a hospital in the region. The kidnappers put the medics at gunpoint before disappearing with them to a mountainous area.
The latest kidnapping followed that of a French cameraman held for eight days in the region.
But MSF Spain was angered by the development to the extent that it had withdrawn its foreign aid from Southern Somalia.
Two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested after an exchange of fire between them and Puntland police.
The UN Special Envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, had earlier released a statement demanding the unconditional release of the aid workers.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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