Aid workers kidnapped by Somali gunmen freed

The three aid workers employed by the French organization Action Against Hunger that were captured by Somali gunmen in July, have been released.

The trio was kidnapped on 18 July by ten gunmen from their office in Mandera, a town situated on the northern Kenyan border with Somalia. It remains unclear whether a ransom has been paid in order to free the aid worker, the BBC reported.

Residents in the north-eastern town said at the time that two of the hostages were from Zimbabwe and Pakistan, while the third was listed as European.

The aid workers were flown to Nairobi, Kenya's capital, and appear to be in good health. The kidnapping of foreigners is rampant in Somalia, which has been ruled by warlords since 1991 since president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted. Last month, four aid workers of Action Against Hunger and two Kenyan pilots were released after they were taken hostage nine months ago.