KENYA/SOMALIA: Military assault on militants in Somalia provokes a warning from al Shabaab and mixed reactions from Mogadishu residents

Record ID: 360737

  • Title: KENYA/SOMALIA: Military assault on militants in Somalia provokes a warning from al Shabaab and mixed reactions from Mogadishu residents
  • Date: 19th October 2011
  • Summary: TRE DISHE, SOUTH OF MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (OCTOBER 17, 2011) (REUTERS) AL SHABAAB SPOKESMAN SHEIKH ALI MOHAMUD RAGE TAKING SEAT (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) AL SHABAAB SPOKESMAN SHEIKH ALI MOHAMUD RAGE, SAYING: ''On behalf of the al Shabaab Mujahideen, we say to the Kenyan government, have you thought of the repercussions of the war against us? Do you know the impact of the fighti
  • Embargoed: 3rd November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya, Somalia
  • City:
  • Country: Somalia Kenya
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3D5AX6W31E68GCJD6N8RPCOMT
  • Story Text: Kenya's military continued its assault on al Shabaab targets in Somalia on Tuesday (October 18) and the Islamic group was reported to be reinforcing an area about 100 kilometres inside the Somali border.
    Islamist fighters headed for the town of Afmadow in anticipation of clashes with advancing Kenyan-backed government troops.
    An Afmadow resident said warplanes were swooping low in the skies above the al Shabaab stronghold but that there were no signs yet of Somali or Kenyan troops on the outskirts of the town.
    Al Shabaab spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage on Monday (October 17) warned Kenya's government that the militant group would strike within its borders if it didn't withdraw its troops. He also said that Kenya's military lacked the combat experience needed to conduct such an operation.
    ''On behalf of the al Shabaab Mujahideen, we say to the Kenyan government: 'Have you thought of the repercussions of the war against us? Do you know the impact of the fighting? We are far more experienced in combat than you','' said Rage.
    The current assault on al Shabaab is the largest military operation the army of Kenya has engaged in since the country gained independence in 1963.
    Residents of Somalia's capital Mogadishu were divided on Kenya's offensive which was launched on Sunday (October 16) in a high-stakes bid to secure its porous border with its anarchic neighbour after a wave of kidnappings by gunmen thought to be linked to the rebels.
    "The Kenya government forces have the right to ensure their security because any one who threatens their sovereignty should be pursued, so there is a reason why they came into Somalia. Kenya's forces have never before intervened in Somalia, even when al Shabab controls most of the country, so they entered Somalia with the sole purpose of protecting their security,'' said Mogadishu Resident Mohamed Abdi Osman.
    "They are looking out for their interest and there is no plan between the Somalia government and Kenya. This intervention only comes after so many kidnappings occurred in Kenya, so that is why Kenyan forces have started to follow the Somali soldiers so as to pursue those behind the abductions. That is what I think," said Mogadishu resident Osman Ali Yusuf said:
    "This is brought about by the lack of Somali union. The country's peace was destroyed when many had different objectives. It is better to make a fair government, but the Somali people failed to do so, so that is why Ethiopian forces came into country and Kenyans as well," said Ibrahim Abukar.
    "I am not happy with the fact that Kenya's forces are in Somalia because when we are in Kenya, they give us problems. I am not satisfied with them,'' said Mogadishu resident Obox Mohamed.
    "The Kenyan forces are pursuing al Shabab so Kenya itself is a haven for Al Shabaab. Didn't you hear in the media about how the Kenya citizen commits suicide? Therefore this is against the Africans as well as Muslims and it is a mysterious policy," said Mogadishu resident Ibrahim Ali Mumim.
    The militants denied they were behind the abduction of four foreigners in three separate incidents along the Kenyan coast and a refugee camp in the past few weeks and said the kidnappings were being used as a pretext for the incursion, which some Mogadishu residents condemned.
    East Africa's biggest economy has long looked nervously at its anarchic neighbor and its troops have made brief incursions into Somali territory in the past.
    The latest operation is a major escalation of military involvement and risks dragging Kenya deeper into Somalia's two-decade civil.
    Horn of Africa analysts said Kenya did not have the capacity or the will to "occupy" Somalia's border areas and would look to Somali forces and government allied militia to hold on to any territory they clear of al Shabaab militants.
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