Esteban Lazo Travels to Kenya in Search of Cooperation and Clarification Concerning the Alleged Death of Two Cuban Doctors

Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly and its Council of State, has traveled to the Republic of Kenya as a High Level Special Envoy, to carry out urgent negotiations with the highest authorities of that country in the search for cooperation and clarification, in light of the recent news published about the possible unconfirmed death of doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández, kidnapped in that country on April 12, 2019.

From the first hours of receiving news, the Government of Cuba gives absolute priority to the efforts that, by various means and on behalf of different international actors, are carried out to obtain the most objective information regarding the events, until all possibilities to confirm the situation of our compatriots are exhausted.

In this framework, since Sunday, February 18, and in addition to the efforts and communication with the Government of Kenya, official contacts have been initiated with the Government of Somalia in search of precision about the reported military operations.

According to various media outlets that cite the United States African Command (AFRICOM), the event occurred on the night of February 15, 2024, during a drone bombing by the US armed forces in the town of Dilib, in Somalia. , where they remained kidnapped. This information was confirmed on February 19 by an AFRICOM spokesperson, as reported by CNN.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the United States Government through diplomatic channels on Sunday, February 18, seeking clarification and is still awaiting a response.

To date, there has been no public statement from the United States Government or its armed forces that confirms the news regarding the kidnapped Cuban collaborators or refutes what has been reported.

There is no knowledge about the circumstances and characteristics of the military operation that the AFRICOM spokesperson confirms to have occurred, whether it was justified, and whether it acted with obligatory care to avoid collateral damage, protect civilians and innocents, and due respect. to international humanitarian law. (https://www.radiohc.cu/noticias/nacionales/347752-presidente-del-parlamento-cubano-viaja-a-kenia-en-busqueda-de-cooperacion-y-esclarecimiento)