22 October, 2011

Kenyan Parliament approves war in Somalia


Kenyan Parliament approves war in Somalia


By Standard Team and Agencies
Options are shrinking for Al-Shabaab, as the capture of Kismayu by Kenyan and Somali Transitional Federal Government forces becomes the next centre of focus, even as the military strategy behind Operation Linda Nchi unfolds.

Kenyan troops disembark from a military vehicle at the Kenya-Somalia border. According to the Government, Nairobi’s Eastleigh Estate is harbouring Al Shabaab militants. Photo: Collins Kweyu/Standard
By the time of going to press, attention was turning to the end-game after Kenyan forces advanced on Afmadou and trained sights on the strategic Kismayu port, with concerns emerging over a possible long drawn-out presence of its troops in Somalia, and the implications.
Kenya is seeking support from her neighbours for the operation and has strongly denied claims that it is intent on occupying the country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and his Defence counterpart Yusuf Haji returned into the country from Somalia and Ethiopia, where they met and briefed key members of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Addis Ababa on the military mission being undertaken by Kenya’s soldiers.
"The operation in Somalia is not an invasion. We have in the past been provoked many times by our neighbours, but we have never invaded any country," said Wetangula on arrival at Wilson Airport from Ethiopia.
On Tuesday, the two ministers met Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed where they agreed to crush the militia "through whatever means necessary".
Wetangula said they developed a joint communiquÈ with Somalia to fight the Al-Shabaab menace.
"We agreed this menace must be fought with all capacity available. We told the Government of Somalia that it was their duty to protect the territorial integrity of its people, and gave a commitment to the region not to allow a lawless group endanger the security of the nation," said Wetangula.
They also lobbied Ethiopia where the African Union Chairman Dr Jean Ping gave his support.
"He (Ping) fully appreciated our efforts and voiced AU’s support to Kenya to defend its territory," said Wetangula.
During the morning session of Parliament, discussion on the matter elicited emotional exchanges between Internal Security Assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh and some MPs from northern Kenya.
The MPs expressed their full support for the war, but accused Ojodeh of employing discriminatory measures against Kenyans of Somali descent by putting in place restrictions on flights headed to and from North Eastern, Upper Eastern, Northern Coast and Upper Rift Valley regions.
Wajir West MP Adan Keynan and nominated MP Mohammed Affey accused Ojodeh of trivialising the issue yet it was a matter of national security.
"We support the war in Somalia but our people should not be discriminated against. It is against the Constitution," said Dujis MP Adan Dualle.
But Ojodeh said the same Constitution calls on the Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens and that is exactly what was doing. Mr EJ Hogendoorn, Horn of Africa Director at International Crisis Group, told news agency AFP that the TFG should move in quickly and establish its authority in areas liberated by Kenya.
The capture of Kismayu will deprive the militants of critical revenue and supply routes by locking them out of the Indian Ocean and choking off a maritime avenue used by pirates.

Key town

Kismayu has been key to the pirates due to its having one of the deepest natural habours in the world, which allows the criminals to navigate captured ships out of international waters and dock them there while negotiating huge ransoms.
Part of the ransom money goes to Al-Shabaab, which is believed to have invested some of it in real estate and other legitimate businesses in various East African towns, including Nairobi, ensuring a steady supply of cash to finance its activities.
The entry of Ethiopia, if it does happen, would see allied forces from Kenya, Africa Mission in Somalia, and TFG soldiers squeeze Al Shabaab in a pincer-like movement from all four corners.
With Kenya’s security forces now fully active along her 1,400km border with Somalia, and with Ethiopia in the north, options for the militants would be further reduced. Safety would mean seeking refuge in neutral Puntland or Somaliland.
Superior military satellite intelligence from friendly Western allies are ensuring pinpoint tracking of the militia’s movements to within 300m, making it easier for Kenyan fighter jets to hit Al-Shabaab camps by air in areas where terrain is difficult for ground troops due to heavy rains.
The announcement on Wednesday of the death of a crippled elderly French woman kidnapped by allies of the militia has given France added impetus to support the military assault. Ms Marie Dedieu, 66, was snatched from her beachfront home on October 1. She was being held in Somalia.
The French Foreign ministry said the circumstances of Dedieu’s death were not known, but her failing health had probably been a factor.
"This was an act of unqualified barbarism, violence and brutality," Foreign minister Alain Juppe told reporters.
"We did everything possible to try to obtain her release. We tried to send medication by numerous different channels, and apparently these savages could not care less."
The announcement of her death came as Kenyan jets pounded the positions in Somalia of Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militants, who Nairobi blames for a spate of abductions of foreigners.
"Mrs Dedieu’s state of health, uncertainty over the conditions of her detention, and the fact that the kidnappers probably refused to give her the medication that we sent her lead us to believe that this tragic outcome is unfortunately the most likely," the French Foreign ministry said, attributing the reports on her death to contacts that it was using to try and secure her release.
Al-Shabaab allies are also holding two Kenyan soldiers and their fate is still unknown.
The biggest worry for the Government is that as losses for the militants mount, their leaders may seek to hit back using sleeper cells made up largely of indigenous Kenyans, to engage in revenge attacks, and to boost the morale of their troops.
Security has been beefed up around strategic installations and police patrols increased to ward off possible attacks.
AFP quoted several analysts suggesting Al-Shabaab had been running out of steam, but that the Kenyan offensive risks giving it a new lease of life.
"Reports thus far seem to indicate a less-than-surgical operation which will only inflame tension, and risks allowing the Al-Shabaab and other militants, to once again rally Somalis around them under the banner of nationalism," said the report.
Ethiopia invaded Somalia in late 2006 to topple the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), starting an occupation that lasted two years and spurring the formation of the Al-Qaeda-inspired Al-Shabaab insurgency from the embers of the ICU.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000045200&cid=4&ttl=Kenya's%20Parliament%20approve%20warn


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