The two Libyan diplomats were seized while they were shopping at the main Bakara market. Their Somali driver sounded the alarm as he was the first one freed. While kidnappings in Mogadishu are rare, they are common in other parts of the country.
In the recent weeks, three foreigners were kidnapped in Somalia. One was a French journalist while the other two were Spanish aid workers. All three of them were freed after short periods of time.
According to BBC, the Bakara market is one of the most dangerous places in Mogadishu.
The Bakara market is a stronghold for Islamic insurgents and other opponents of Somalia’s interim government. The government is disputed on a regular basis by clashes between the insurgents and the Ethiopian military.
For many years, Somalia has been without a functioning central government. The country relies on the international community for aid and Ethiopia for military support.