Somalia
Mogadishu braces for govt's military offensive
By
Mar 25, 2010 - 8:18:44 AM

The besieged Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia is planning to launch full scale its much-awaited offensive against the powerful insurgence in the coming week, sources told Radio Garowe.

A high ranking official who requested not to be named said the preparation has been completed and the plans are to retain the control of the Horn of African nation which had been ruined by two-decade long civil war.

"This coming week will launch our offensives to retain the control of 10 districts in Mogadishu, which are not under the control of the government,” he said.

“The war will start within weeks and the plans are that way unless its changed,” he added. In recent weeks, thousands of people have fled Mogadishu's near-daily insurgent attacks and the TFG officials' repeated threats of launching a massive offensive to push back the insurgents.

The official also said American warplanes will take part in the offensives and the neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia will tighten their borders with Somalia.

Last week, U.S. under-secretary for African affairs, Johnnie Carson, rejected widespread speculation that U.S. special forces or warplanes would take part in the TFG's anticipated offensive against Al Shabaab and other insurgents in Mogadishu.

The two main insurgents Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have deployed thousands of their fighters including 'child soldiers' in the restive capital Mogadishu, vowing to defend them from any aggression.

“We will fight the TFG and AMISOM if they attack us. And we have the public support,” he told congregation last week at a Mogadishu Mosque.

Somali military commander Gen. Mohammed Gelle Kahiye has previously stated that the force will receive special care will in the fight, adding that work is completing at the special Hospital where the wounded will be admitted.

The war against the insurgents was planned by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who said it is the only remaining option for his one-year old administration to voyage in the rattled waters.

The TFG was created at the conclusion of Somali peace talks in Kenya in 2004. Sheikh Sharif became TFG president in Jan. 2009, after a fast-paced and controversial peace agreement was signed in Djibouti.

The Horn of Africa country has defied numerous international attempts at peace, mostly imposed from atop through peace conferences in foreign capitals. It is not clear whether or not President Sheikh Sharif's interim government will succeed in the offensive by overpowering the insurgents, his former allies.

However, many Somalis worry that the TFG leader has not presented a post-war plan to help Somalia recover from two decades of conflict and chaos.

GAROWE ONLINE