The US has had an anti terrorism unit called Joint Special Operations Command Horn of Africa located in Djibouti specifically to launch raids in the region. CJTF-HOA brings together special operations assets from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. Currently the unit is under AFRICOM. AFRICOM has been getting more involved in African affairs but rarely open and directly involved in hostage rescue. Pirates used to routinely grab entire ships with crews of up to two dozen and count the days until a insurance company would delivery millions of risk free dollars. Times have been tight so a rash of land based kidnappings have expanded to include journalists, aid workers and tourists. Some grabbed as far as away as the Kenyan border. Pirates are bad history students or else they would have realized the success ratio for ransoming an American inside Somalia is nil.
The three months that Jessica Buchanan endured was a long time but at Tuesday midnight between seven to twelve dark grey aircraft arrived at Galkayo airport. US Special Operations forces secured the airport and then launched the raid at around between 2 and 3 am (2300- 0000 GMT) The early morning rescue operation took about 15 minutes after HALO parachute insertion. The ground lead was taken by US Navy SEALs and other units staged from Galkayo airport and overhead. The rescue took place in the vicinity of Iidoole and Higlale villages, near Cadaado district, approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Galkayo.
According to local residents, the attack began at around 3:30 am (0030 GMT), with multiple US helicopters landing to remove the hostages and rescuers after engaging the pirates in a gun battle.
Eight pirates were killed in the operation an unknown number wounded and at least four to six others are missing, presumed to have been taken prisoner. Descriptions of the event differs with some locals insisting there was a firefight and others saying the Somali guards were found all shot in the head as they slept.
American Boots On The Ground
Although other countries have conducted raids, the US has been hesitant to actively engage hostile elements on the ground in Somalia. Air strikes, naval encounters and coordination are common. There are Americans training elements in Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Bosaso but no active military presence since 1993. The last two incidents involving kidnapped Americans were engaged at sea. The first being the deployment of DEVGRU on board the Maersk Alabama and the other being the desperate attempt to save the lives of four American yachters on the SV Quest.
The conditions for the rescue of American Michael Scott Moore and future kidnaps of westerners appear more ominous. Pirates have kidnapped then detained Indian and Korean nationals to exchange for detained pirates. Although a different gang holds Moore, the threat of an pending attack is clear.
The American and the Dane had been held for three months after being kidnapped by their own security guards on the way to the airport in Galkayo. A similar incident occured this past Saturday with the kidnapping of American journalist Michael Scott Moore.
Two of the kidnappers who originally been involved in the initial kidnap were arrested in Galkayo but later escaped from custody. Mr. Moore was on his way to the same airport on the same road when he was abducted and is currently being held for ransom.
The Danish government stated that the timing for the raid was based on the physical illness of one of the Danish Refugee Group employees. Buchanan a former school teacher, Peace Corp and US govt employee required medication for a kidney ailment.
In late November, a Somali doctor visited the two hostages to provide treatment for what was described then as a stomach ailment. Not only did the kidnappers fight amongst themselves but some towns like Hiinlabi refused to let the criminal gangs stay and elders from nearby regions tried to negotiate their release and the President of Galamadug promised to use force. None of those efforts were successful.
The pirates had been moving the hostages to different areas in Galgudud and Mudug regions on a nightly basis, according to Omar Habab, a Somali journalist residing in Cadado district.
Mohamed Omar, a spokesman for the self-declared region of Himan and Heeb, in which Cadaado is located, welcomed the rescue operation in an interview with Somalia Report.
"We are very happy about this incident, because the pirates are the ones causing insecurity in our region," said Mr. Omar.
Executive Order
While entering to give his State of the Union address, President Obama pointed at Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in the crowd and said, "Good job tonight." According to the White House, President Obama had green lit the operation on Monday. Rescue operations require detailed ground intelligence and rehearsal before launched, usually around the time that the targets are in their deepest sleep. In Somalia many pirates are still up chewing khat at that hour, a factor that may have led to the high body count during the rescue.
The White House issued an official press release; “Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home. As commander in chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts.... The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice. This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”
Moved From the MV Albedo
The DDG hostage were moved from board the MV Albedo this week and taken to Iidoole village, approximately 30 kilometers away from Cadaado.
The decision to move the hostages back to land was the product of a conflict between a key investor with the gang holding the Albedo, Hassan Duuban, and Said Harawo, the pirate commander responsible for kidnapping the two aid workers.
Mr. Duuban, who had no financial stake in the DDG hostages, believed that holding the aid workers on board the Albedo would unnecessarily prolong negotiations for the ship's release, which Somalia Report believes to be imminent.
Mr. Harawo eventually bowed to pressure and moved the hostages to Iidoole village, according to pirates who spoke to Somalia Report.
“Said Harawo was not present and therefore is still alive, but eight pirates died during operation. I have the names of seven of the dead pirates: Osman Alcohol, Dahir Yare, Ilka’ase, Dahir Qobey, Abdi Nafa, Nin Gubtey, and Mohamed Aden. All these pirates are from the Saleebaan-clan (a sub-clan of the Hawiye)," said the pirate source.
Pirates told Somalia Report on November 5 that they had demanded an ambitious $10 million ransom for the pair.
For now the successful raid gives hope to the dozens of hostages held on land and at sea in Somalia but may inspire more oppressive treatment of captives.