A Press Release sent out via the TFG has stated that Pelizzari and Calitz were released following an operation by the Somali National Army. The release stated that Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his happiness in the successful operation of the Somali National Army, in which the two South African natives were freed and pledged that the SNA will rescue other captives.
Speaking to the press, Calitz said, "We are happy that we have been rescued by the government of Somalia. We owe them our lives. We have been in the hands of the terrorist for almost two years.”
The acting Prime Minister of Somalia and Minister of Defense, Hussein Arab Isse said the two were rescued in an operation carried out by the military and security agencies in an early morning raid which resulted in their release. The Minister posed with the couple who are now understood to have flown out of the country and are returning to South Africa. The Press Release contradicts apparent comments by Bruno Pelizzari in a Reuters piece, in which he said their release had been secured following "a negotiated settlement".
Somalia Report will continue to monitor the story and update readers with any new developments.