( CNN ) -- Two French advisers helping the Somali government with security were kidnapped in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning , according to the French Foreign Ministry . Young al-Shabaab militants with a heavy machine gun in Mogadishu on July 13 . The two French citizens were on an official mission in the Somali capital when they were seized by armed men , the ministry said in a statement . Eyewitnesses said a group of gunmen stormed into Mogadishu 's Sahafi hotel , which is frequented by foreigners , and seized the two French citizens . Somali government officials confirmed that about 10 gunmen forced their way into the hotel , but had no details on the reported kidnapping . Witnesses said the gunmen took the two blindfolded and bound hostages on foot towards Mogadishu 's Bakara market , a stronghold for Islamist insurgents fighting against the Somali government . The Islamist insurgency in Somalia is led by Al-Shabaab -- an al Qaeda-linked group that is on the United States ' terror list . It wants to overthrow Somalia 's weak , transitional government and implement a radical version of sharia , or Islamic law . Watch exclusive footage of militant attack on presidential palace » . Fighting in Somalia 's capital city has displaced 200,000 Mogadishu residents since early May , according to the United Nations . Journalist Mohamed Amin Adow contributed to this report .
Officials : Two French citizens were on an official mission in the Somali capital . Eyewitnesses said a group of gunmen stormed into Mogadishu 's Sahafi hotel . Witnesses say they were taken to Bakara market , a stronghold for militants .