The Government of Tanzania has confirmed that three Kenyans and 21 Tanzanian truck drivers were abducted by a dangerous rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo identified as Mai Mai.

According to emerging reports, the 24 were driving trucks belonging to two Tanzania-registered companies heading to Namoya gold mine in DRC when they were kidnapped.

“They were kidnapped by Mai-Mai fighters on June 29 in Lulimba, in South Kivu province, while they were on their way to the Namoya gold mine in Maniema province.

“According to information coming from the Tanzanian Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Mai-Mai rebels attacked the convoy which was being escorted by soldiers from the Congolese army," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mindi Kasiga announced.