How KDF plotted the capture of a port city in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - Watching movies was part of intensive training that KDF soldiers engaged in for the final assault against Al-Shabaab in Kismayo, a former Commanding Officer has noted.

Dubbed 'Operation Sledge Hammer', became one of the amphibious assault conducted by KDF in Kismayo city in 2012.

Col. William Kamoiro, narrates in the newly published book, "The Soldiers Legacy", the kind of perilous training KDF troops went through before the final capture.

Kismayo, a seaport city in Somalia, had been used for decades for commercial purposes by the Al-Qaida associated insurgents.

US help in Manda Airfield

US Army, which is a key partner of KDF, was involved in the entire sophisticated operation which was organized for several months, he notes in the book.

Both airmen, ground troops and Navy took part in the preparations given the topography of Kismayo, which borders land and sea, he says.

Manda Bay, which plays host to US Marine, was used as a training base at the coastal county of Lamu. All KDF troops in the operation gathered at the Airfield.

A fortnight ago, the Airfield was attacked by Al-Shabaab militants, killing three Americans besides destroying six aircraft, AFRICOM said.

The US military is still investigating the circumstances behind the assault, the first of its kind against a US military base in Africa.

Complex pre-planning procedures

To emotionally prepare the soldiers, he says, troops at times watched movies as part of simulation ahead of the complex task.

“This involved review of movies pertaining to the coordinated action of land, sea and air forces operations," he notes.

Somali National Army [SNA], we're kept out of the picture, only to be brought in from Dhobley just a day before the departure to Kismayo, he adds.

“Mobile phones were confiscated from all the troops taking part including those remaining at Manda," he recalls, adding that even details about landing site were concealed.

Komoiro adds: “The deception plan thus worked well in our favor. The operation was planned and executed meticulously."

The Training and departure

Besides using most of the time at Manda Bay, he recalls, troops were also subjected to intense training at Baringo, around 400 KM West of Nairobi.

"My unit conducted pre-deployment training in Loruk are in Baringo County followed by special to mission training in Manda,” he recalls.

At the battalion started the journey at Hulugho in Garissa County. The initial plan he says was to capture Bula Haji as the intermediate objective and advance to Kismayo, he notes.

The 3BG was to conduct passage of lines with KDF troops in Kolbiyow-Badhadhe and then advance through Wadajir-Bula Haji to Kismayo's main supply route.

Meanwhile, 9BG which was part of the forces advancing Kismayo from the Afmadow route had faced formidable resistance from the militia at Miido suffering human and equipment casualties.

Here is where several KDF soldiers were killed and their bodies paraded in town by the enemy.

Tough journey to Kismayo

According to him, embarkation began on September 23 at Mkunguni and was completed on 25 when 3BG troops, vehicles, weapons, and logistics were loaded onto landing craft logistic ships.

“The sea was so rough that lowering boats to sail the SF onshore was difficult," Komoiro says, adding that it took long for boats to stabilize.

He went on: "When calm resumed, the troops could not secure the beach in time thus landing was called off until the following day."

This, he adds, forced troops to hold back in deep-sea at daybreak to retry landing. At this point, they had prepared for the assault.

The operation to liberate Kismayo

With the troops keen to capture the seaport city, an assault was ordered and troops went rampage against the Al-Shabaab, he recalls.

“The assault began in the early hours of September 28, boats were thrown off by strong surf and as a result, one diver was injured and his rifle damaged,” he said.

But in the middle of the onslaught, he says, intelligence reports indicated that Alshabab was also preparing retaliation in a nearby quarry.

"From our position, we had seen vehicles driving about 4km forward the beach close to Kismayo University,” he says.

He adds, “I ordered the lowering of ropes for troops to disembark starting with RSF and medium mortars so as to quickly expand the foothold established by SF."

By 4 am, all KDF troops were in position and set before Kamoiro gave an order for the assault at 7.30 am.

And bt 8.30 am on September 28, the old airport, GTI and Kismayo University had been captured by KDF.

Al-Shabaab struggles to fight back

But an attempt by al Shabaab to launch a spoiling attack from the presidential palace was stalled by a jet fighter sortie at 11.20 am, notes Komoiro.

The two groups were advancing from Afamadhow compelling the 3 BG to hold the beachhead for four days until the arrival of the 5 BG and 9 BG respectively.

“Operation Sledge Hammer’ was terminated on October 2, when the seaport was captured by D CT of 3 Battle Group in conjunction with SF,” the former commander recalls.

This to him was a turning point in the war against al-Shabaab because the terror group had planned to block the advance of 5 and 9 BG’s with fortified defensive positions in the Lacta belt.

“The amphibious assault by 3 battle group achieved surprise in significant ways and the only option for the enemy was to retreat from Kismayo in disarray,” he says.

Since then, the city is now under surveillance of the KDF troops in AMISOM with help from their SNA counterparts.

GAROWE ONLINE