Kenya advances towards Somali city of Kismayo

[Thankful]

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Kenya intends to push its troops to Somalia's insurgent stronghold of Kismayo and will stay until there are no Islamist insurgents left, a Kenyan military spokesman said Thursday, as the militants were pushed back on two fronts by pro-Somali government forces supported by foreign troops.[

 

"We are going to be there until the (Somali government) has effectively reduced the capacity of al-Shabab to fire a single round ... We want to ensure there is no al-Shabab," Kenyan military spokesman Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir told The Associated Press. "We want to destroy all their weapons."

 

He said troops have secured a foothold in Ras Kamboni, a town 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the Kenya-Somalia border, and that al-Shabab militants left the town before the Kenyans arrived. Abdinasir Serar, a senior commander with the pro-government militia, confirmed Ras Kamboni had changed hands. The town is where al-Shabab's forerunner, the Islamic Courts Union, made its last stand in the face of an Ethiopian advance in 2007.

 

"This provides a vantage point for us to clear al-Shabab and pirates from the Somali coast in Kismayo," Chirchir said. "Al-Shabab is in disarray."

 

His words were the clearest statement yet of Kenya's intentions after it sent troops into Somalia last weekend. Kenya said it was retaliating for a series of raids by Somali gunmen who have attacked and abducted foreigners from Kenyan territory. Two Spanish aid workers, a cancer-stricken quadriplegic Frenchwoman and an Englishwoman have all been seized in the past six weeks; the Englishwoman's husband was killed in the kidnappers' assault. On Wednesday, the French government announced that the Frenchwoman had died.

 

Kenyan officials have also said they will launch an internal crackdown on Kenyan residents suspected to be helping al-Shabab.

 

"Our security forces have begun operations within and outside of our borders against militants who have sought to destabilize our country," Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said.

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Thursday's speech at Kenya's Nyayo stadium was delivered to nearly empty bleachers — police had locked out thousands of waiting Kenyans after the president arrived, fearing al-Shabab might try to make good on their threats earlier this week to bomb Kenya.

 

On Wednesday, the country's internal security minister said that he was planning to "sweep" the country of any underground al-Shabab sympathizers, a statement that sent ripples of fear through Kenya's Somali-speaking community. Many Muslim and Kenyan-Somali leaders have said they fear their communities may be targeted by security services.

 

Kenyan police are frequently criticized by human rights bodies for corruption and killing or beating civilians. But a lawmaker from a northern constituency sought to reassure Somalis they would not be unfairly detained.

 

"Whatever sweep they are talking about remains an intent. We have advised (the government) to take whatever security precautions they want to take constitutionally, without infringing on people's rights," said parliament member Adan Keynan . "Anything that is targeting one particular community will not be accepted, it will not be tolerated."

 

In the Somali capital, al-Shabab was chased out of the capital's northernmost neighborhood, Deynile, in a dawn offensive, residents said. Somali government troops and African Union peacekeepers took control of the area, which the Islamist insurgency used as an execution ground and as an area for carrying out amputations.

 

"Somali government soldiers and AMISOM are here today and Al-Shabab left," said resident Liban Abdullahi, using a common acronym to refer to the 9,000-strong African Union force of Burundian and Ugandan soldiers. "We wish quiet days will follow, because we were always in trouble living among two warring sides."

 

A police official said government troops had encountered little resistance during their dawn attack.

 

"We have captured the whole district, and the anti-peace elements have fled to the outskirts," said Col. Aden Kalmoy, a Somali military spokesman.

 

Two years ago, al-Shabab held almost all of southern Somalia, and the government was confined to a few city blocks. But the militia has been weakened by a severe drought and famine in its strongholds, a loss of revenue from markets in the capital of Mogadishu, internal divisions and public disgust over their strict punishments, recruitment of child soldiers and indiscriminate bombing. They are also severely outgunned by AU forces.

 

At the same time, the weak U.N.-backed Somali government has been strengthened by foreign backers, including military personnel from Burundi, Uganda and Kenya and financial and logistical support from Italy and the U.S. that means that government soldiers have been regularly paid this year for the first time in more than two decades of civil war.

 

The changes forced al-Shabab to retreat from Mogadishu in August in what its leaders described as a tactical pullout. In response, the militant group has carried out a campaign of suicide bombings. Many have detonated prematurely or been intercepted, including two incidents on Wednesday in which government troops captured a man with explosives, said Lt. Mohamed Nur. A separate roadside bomb killed a man who was trying to plant it, said police official Ali Hassan.

 

The most devastating attack so far was a truck bomb that killed more than 100 people earlier this month. Many were students seeking information about scholarships in Turkey. Now many Somalis are trying to avoid public places or take back roads to avoid possible violence.

[Thankful]

It appears that Al Shabaab has learned from past mistakes and realizes that they cannot hold ground against a conventional army.

 

Sadly it appears that they will blend in with the population and continue their cowardly attacks.

[The Zack]

They are done, this is the end of the takfiir group. Kismaayo was their base for all of their economy. Once they lose that city, they will be broke and they won't have the Somali people's support this time.

[xiinfaniin]

They lost Kismayo before, Ethiopia captured their regional leader hebel madoobe, and put him in prison. BUT they comeback with vengeance and effectively held the city till today.

 

Why?

[Jacaylbaro]

Kenya Advances ku lahaa ............. still they did not face a single bullet from anyone.

[A_Khadar]

They are still loading and unloading themselves in and around the towns near by the border.. I even recongized that place, it's qudhacdii Dhoobley..

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

ooh this is going to be interesting

[Showqi]

This is going to be the end of Al-Shabaab. TFG is fighting Al-Shabaab, Kenyans are fighting them, Ethiopians are fighting them, shacabkii Soomaaliyeed iyaguna iminka Al-Shabaab wey ka soo herjeesteen. Weynu arki doonaa Al-Shabaab masheey ku dambeyaan a year from now!!!

[Yunis]

Foriegn invaders keep pouring into somali, yet expecting different out come.

 

Kenya can capture Kismayo may be a day or so. they will not hold that town more then few months. As soon as they leave clan rivalry/flighting will erupt again in that part of somalia.

[Thankful]

Jacaylbaro;752802 wrote:

Kenya Advances ku lahaa ............. still they did not face a single bullet from anyone.

Please with the secessionist opinion. Without a doubt the Hargeysa enclave are the ones that are most worried about Al Shabaab's defeat. Because they use to say that the TFG only controlled a few streets. However the Hargeysa admin has lost that argument because now the whole city is in it's control. The secessionists are most worried because the TFG is given more and more land each day which leads to more international legitimacy. We have seen this by the Turkish PM visit!

 

Yunis,

 

If Al Shabaab can't get Mogadishu back and it is the most important city and biggest city. What makes you think they can possibly hold and get back Kismaayo?

[Yunis]

Thankfull,

 

It’s imply the context in which ‘alshaab’ is being drive-out that is the issue here. Up to this point most Somalis were tired of Al-shabab savagery and were beginning to see their support fade. Kenya’s actions has given this dying cult a life-line and raised their status again.

 

Don’t pay into this fake excuse of Kenya is doing this to Help Somalis - no two Country’s interests are perfectly align. Soon as Kenya settles into Jubooyinka, They will arm a clan they know will serve their interest of buffer state and run away. There is reports already that Madoobe militia taking part of Kenya incursion(under disguise of TFG), soon you’ll have Bayxaani group, Gedo group, rascaambooni, all vying for dominance ….wlc to the 90’s all over again.

 

Sxb I know your type of mentality, Somalis barbaric clan fighting is a part of our culture - just crush who ever that you see as the enemy, how far did we get into this mentality? This type of thinking is what ruined this cursed nation. This is not to say, the solution lies either with al-shabaab or Somali’s chronic clan fighting. We’ll find true genuine peace, when Somalis sit and learn how to settle issues peacefully without settle scores.

[Abdul]

If they capture Kismayo and a strong somali gov forces take over the city is a good thing.But if they leave it in the hands of rival clans then Alshabab will be back for sure.

[The Zack]

xiinfaniin;752801 wrote:

They lost Kismayo before, Ethiopia captured their regional leader hebel madoobe, and put him in prison. BUT they comeback with vengeance and effectively held the city till today.

 

Why?

the support of the shacab is gone, that is the difference. I highlighted that in my post.

[Jacpher]

^fiqi tolkii kama jano tago baa la yidhi. Sacabka u tun Kiinyaatiga.

[Thankful]

Yunis again, I need to refer you to Mogadishu as an example. The TFG and citizens of the city have backed and fought along side the AU forces to expel Al Shabaab from the city. The "dying cult" had the south firmly in their control. The TFG or the local population do not have the power to take them on. If they were against the operation we would be seeing protest!

 

I believe they welcome it and like Mogadishu these cities will be in control of the TFG!