BOSASSO, Somalia – French journalist Gwen Le Gouil was kidnapped in Puntland, Somalia. According to conflicting reports either three or five armed men abducted the journalist two days ago after he arrived in the city from Mogadishu. Le Gouil, an Albert Londres award winner for his report on humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka, was researching a story on human trafficking in Somalia when the attack occurred.

The kidnappers have demanded $70,000 (£35,000) ransom for Le Gouil’s release. According to Puntland’s deputy Governor Yusuf Mumin Bidde, government officials and elders were dispatched to Puntland to negotiate with the abductors. However, reports speculate that Le Gouil has been moved to Marero, after kidnappers opened fire on negotiators today.

Once known for its stability, Puntland, a port town of Bosasso, has been the center of recent kidnapping, hijacking and piracy.

In the meantime, there are reports that Somalia pirates attacked an Italian-owned cargo ship, MV Jolly Turchese, today. The Italian Ministry has not received any information or communication from the ship, and Andrew Mwangura, director of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme, says the information is sketchy. Mwangura believes the ship was headed to Kenya’s Mombasa port after delivering cargo through the Suez canal when it was attacked off the coast of Somalia. Presently it is unknown if the ship and its crew were captured or if they escaped.

For more information please see:

BBC- French newsman ‘safe’ in Somalia – 17 December 2007

Reuters: Africa- Suspect pirates attack Italian ship – group – 17 December 2007

Reuters: Africa- Gunmen kidnap French journalist in North Somalia – 16 December 2007

AllAfrica.com- Somalia: French Journalist Kidnapped By Armed Men – 17 December 2007