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| Last Updated: Apr 3, 2012 - 2:47:55 AM |
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Kenya praises Somalia role in fight against Al-Shabaab
4 Dec 4, 2011 - 12:04:11 AM
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Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on Saturday praised local inhabitants in southern Somalia for playing key role to the success of ongoing crackdown on Al-Shabaab.
Colonel Cyrus Oguna of the KDF told journalists that the dual military operation has been registering success against Al-Shabaab as a result of winning the hearts and minds of the local Somali populace who have been giving information to the troops about the operations of the insurgents.
"Modern warfare also involves the fight to win the affection of the local people in liberated areas, and this is something we have done successfully through the provision of food, medicine and water," Oguna said.
He said the humanitarian assistance the Kenyan troops have been providing to the local population has contributed immensely in the fight against the militants, who he said have been moving away from the conflict zones after suffering heavy loses.
According to Oguna, by denying Al-Shabaab room to move about because of information the KDF has been receiving from the local people, the group has abandoned the Northern and Southern sectors and are scampering to the central part of the country.
Oguna said that acting on information from the local populace, KDF troops were able to destroy an Al-Shabaab base on Nov. 28 in Bibi located between the major towns of Kismayu and Afmadow, where a cache of weapons was destroyed, various logistics confiscated and four militia members and five donkeys were captured and handed over to Somali government TFG forces.
He said Al-Shabaab has abandoned the use of "technicals" of donkeys after adopting the strategy of moving in small groups but suffering heavy loses.
Oguna said on Nov. 29, KDF ambushed four tractors and managed to kill two Al-Shabaab members while capturing three in the process.
The military man revealed that a senior member of Al-Shabaab, who he described as someone who has fought alongside the militia all his adult life, recently defected to the TFG after the group suffered heavy losses and is undergoing interrogation.
He declined to give his name for security reasons.
"Members of Al-Shabaab have only three options remaining.
"To defect, surrender or take a flight or sail out of Somalia," he said.
He disclosed there are intelligence reports to the effect that some Somalis in the diaspora have either been funding the group or fighting alongside the group.
"There is no point of wasting one’s life in a futile exercise such as fighting for the Al-Shabaab instead of doing something more meaningful with your life," he cautioned those on such a mission because Al-Shabaab is on its last throes.
The East African nation blames the group for a string of attacks and kidnappings in Kenya, including those of four Europeans.
The Kenyan government says the kidnappings threaten tourism, a key source of revenue for the country.
Al-Shabaab has been fighting since 2008 to topple Somalia’s central government.
The group is believed to have ties to Al-Qaeda, and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Oguna’s remarks came barely a week after the East African Community (EAC) expressed support for Kenya’s intervention in Somalia to safeguard the peace, security and stability of not only Kenyans but also the whole region.
In a communique released at the end of the 13th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State in Bujumbura, Burundi on Thursday, the regional leaders also expressed support to the Kampala Accord regarding regional peace initiatives in Somalia.
"The summit expressed support for the Kampala Accord regarding the regional political peace initiatives in Somalia whose implementation involves the African Union, European Union, the League of Arab States, IGAD, Indian Ocean Commission, the UN Peace on Somalia (UNPOS) and the EAC in a joint peace implementation mechanism," it said.
Uganda and Burundi, whose troops are in Mogadishu, pledged more troops with Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza calling for international support.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki told the summit the success of the community was linked to the state of affairs in the entire region and called for support from regional and international communities.
"The instability in Somalia continues to spill over to the whole region.
"Indeed, our economies continue to face serious challenges.
"I wish to reiterate our call to the United Nations Security Council to take serious steps towards stabilizing Somalia, " he said.
Kibaki said insecurity in Somalia was an international problem and urged the international community to complement the efforts of regional bodies.
"As we encourage the international community to support the ongoing efforts, I express my gratitude for the support that EAC member states have pledged to Kenya and TFG of Somalia," Kibaki added.
Source: Xinhua
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