Troops advance toward Islamist base in Somalia
Source: Agencies |
October 21, 2011, Friday
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KENYAN and Somali troops advanced on an Islamist-held town in southern Somalia yesterday and African Union peacekeepers moved on one of the last pockets under militant control in the capital Mogadishu.
Nairobi launched a cross-border incursion into Somalia to flush out rebels from its porous frontier area after a series of kidnappings of foreigners in Kenya. The abductions were carried out by gunmen thought to be linked to the al-Shabaab rebels, allied to al-Qaida.
Officials in Kenya say the operation into its anarchic neighbor is necessary to protect its multimillion-dollar tourism industry and reputation as a relatively stable investment destination.
Kenyan Tourism Minister Najib Balala said: "The military response to al-Shabaab will not affect tourism activities in the country owing to a raft of security measures already in place to secure all tourist activities.
"Kenya will not be cowed by threats from al-Shabaab and will continue to fight to avert any further threat to the country's stability."
But Kenya's troops, backed by Somali government forces, have found it difficult to make much progress through torrential rains and heavy, muddy soil.
On Wednesday, a Kenyan military spokesman said the army had secured three towns. Al-Shabaab said it saw Kenyan troops in the towns of Taabto, Qoqani and near the border town of Elwaq but denied any fighting has taken place.
Somali Colonel Yasin Adan said: "We have advanced. We are now close to Afmadow."
"Our allied forces (Kenyan troops) are with us. We cannot wait for the soil to dry. We are moving slowly, slowly."
Al-Shabaab's fighters have taken refuge in Afmadow, a stronghold which serves as a transit point for goods from the port at Kismayu, about 120 kilometers to the south.
Resident Hawa Gadid said: "Tension is high in Afmadow. Whenever we open our shops, people scare us and say, 'The Kenyan troops have come.'
"Al-Shabaab have been forcibly picking teenagers from their houses in the last 48 hours (to fight). They are determined to fight the Kenyans come what may. Afmadow is al-Shabaab's frontline," she said, adding truckloads of fighters were arriving from other regions.
A senior Somali commander said the operation's aim was to rid Kismayu of the militants. Residents said planes were flying low over the port.
A fighter from Ras Kam-boni, a militia nominally allied to the government, said his fighters and Kenyan troops had passed through islands along the coastline beyond Kismayu.
"Our militia and Kenyan troops have approached along the coastline. Kenya puts a focus on these islands because if they are secured there will be no abductions," said the fighter.
This week's operation is on a much larger scale and al Shabaab has vowed to retaliate, saying it was not responsible for a spate of kidnappings of foreigners in Kenya.
Nairobi launched a cross-border incursion into Somalia to flush out rebels from its porous frontier area after a series of kidnappings of foreigners in Kenya. The abductions were carried out by gunmen thought to be linked to the al-Shabaab rebels, allied to al-Qaida.
Officials in Kenya say the operation into its anarchic neighbor is necessary to protect its multimillion-dollar tourism industry and reputation as a relatively stable investment destination.
Kenyan Tourism Minister Najib Balala said: "The military response to al-Shabaab will not affect tourism activities in the country owing to a raft of security measures already in place to secure all tourist activities.
"Kenya will not be cowed by threats from al-Shabaab and will continue to fight to avert any further threat to the country's stability."
But Kenya's troops, backed by Somali government forces, have found it difficult to make much progress through torrential rains and heavy, muddy soil.
On Wednesday, a Kenyan military spokesman said the army had secured three towns. Al-Shabaab said it saw Kenyan troops in the towns of Taabto, Qoqani and near the border town of Elwaq but denied any fighting has taken place.
Somali Colonel Yasin Adan said: "We have advanced. We are now close to Afmadow."
"Our allied forces (Kenyan troops) are with us. We cannot wait for the soil to dry. We are moving slowly, slowly."
Al-Shabaab's fighters have taken refuge in Afmadow, a stronghold which serves as a transit point for goods from the port at Kismayu, about 120 kilometers to the south.
Resident Hawa Gadid said: "Tension is high in Afmadow. Whenever we open our shops, people scare us and say, 'The Kenyan troops have come.'
"Al-Shabaab have been forcibly picking teenagers from their houses in the last 48 hours (to fight). They are determined to fight the Kenyans come what may. Afmadow is al-Shabaab's frontline," she said, adding truckloads of fighters were arriving from other regions.
A senior Somali commander said the operation's aim was to rid Kismayu of the militants. Residents said planes were flying low over the port.
A fighter from Ras Kam-boni, a militia nominally allied to the government, said his fighters and Kenyan troops had passed through islands along the coastline beyond Kismayu.
"Our militia and Kenyan troops have approached along the coastline. Kenya puts a focus on these islands because if they are secured there will be no abductions," said the fighter.
This week's operation is on a much larger scale and al Shabaab has vowed to retaliate, saying it was not responsible for a spate of kidnappings of foreigners in Kenya.
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