Kenya to Send Back Over 600 Somali Soldiers Stranded After Raskamboni Defeat

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will repatriate more than 600 Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers stranded along the Kenya-Somalia border, just days after they lost the battle to claim Raskamboni, a strategic town in Jubaland.

After hours of intense fighting, the overwhelmed Somali troops retreated to the Kenya-Somalia border, where they sought refuge in a KDF Forward Operating Base, surrendering weapons as a result, multiple security sources confirmed.

Kenya's Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed the presence of SNA soldiers at a KDF base in Lamu County, just a few yards from Raskamboni, a strategic town we'll guarded by Kenyan troops and those from Jubaland.

“They laid down their arms. We are now working on how to take them back home," Omollo said, adding that Kenya respects existing mutual and bilateral relations with the government of Somalia.

Trouble began when SNA forces from the elite Gorgor contingent attacked a base controlled by Jubaland while provoking Kismayo in pursuit of the removal of Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe from power, after winning his third consecutive term as a regional leader.

Jubaland claimed control of the town, with reports of ten federal soldiers killed after heavy clashes, forcing the government of Somalia to withdraw the soldiers with some taking refuge in the KDF base. Somalia's government warned that legal actions will be taken against those involved.

Somali Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala alleged, “There is clear evidence that Al-Shabaab played a consequential role in the attack on government forces.” Jubaland denied these claims.

Although the government of Somalia insists the elite soldiers were deployed to take bases left by exiting African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops, Jubaland says there was a conspiracy to overthrow President Madobe.

Kenya’s involvement in Jubaland dates back to military operations against Al-Shabaab and its support for Ahmed Madobe. However, this has sometimes led to tensions with Somalia’s federal government, forcing KDF to take a neutral stand in the latest regional conflict in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE