Kenyan soldiers rescued 16 sailors after their cargo dhow burst into flames off Somalia's coast on Thursday. The vessel departed Kismayo bound for Dubai when fire consumed it nine kilometers from port. Troops from the Special Boat Unit stationed at Kismayo Seaport answered the distress call from MSV FAZLERABBI and pulled all crew members to safety with help from local boats.
Kenya Defence Forces handed the survivors to port authorities for medical treatment. The military operates under the African Union Mission in Somalia, which replaced an earlier peacekeeping force. Investigators have not determined what sparked the blaze.
The rescue demonstrates Kenya's role in maritime security along the 3,300-kilometer Somali coastline. Piracy and smuggling plague these waters that connect East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula trade routes. The mission collaborates with Somali forces and international partners to protect shipping lanes and coastal areas once controlled by militant groups.
Kenya Defence Forces handed the survivors to port authorities for medical treatment. The military operates under the African Union Mission in Somalia, which replaced an earlier peacekeeping force. Investigators have not determined what sparked the blaze.
The rescue demonstrates Kenya's role in maritime security along the 3,300-kilometer Somali coastline. Piracy and smuggling plague these waters that connect East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula trade routes. The mission collaborates with Somali forces and international partners to protect shipping lanes and coastal areas once controlled by militant groups.
