Eritrea denies sending weapons to al-Shabab in Somalia

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Eritrea denies sending weapons to al-Shabab in Somalia

 

Al-Shabab denies involvement in a spate of recent kidnappings on Kenyan soil

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Eritrea has denied reports that it delivered weapons in the last few days to Somali Islamist group al-Shabab.

 

The Kenyan army said two planes landed in Baidoa with weapons and ammunition for al-Shabab. It did not specify where the aircraft had come from.

 

A UN report earlier this year accused Eritrea of supporting al-Shabab.

 

Kenya sent troops into Somalia in mid-October as it blames the Islamist group for a spate of kidnappings - allegations al-Shabab dismisses.

 

The al-Qaeda-linked group controls much of central and southern Somalia.

 

Meanwhile there are conflicting accounts of losses following a battle involving Kenya, Somali government forces and al-Shabab on Tuesday on the road from the border town of Liboi to Kenyan forward troop positions inside Somalia.

 

The BBC's East Africa correspondent Will Ross says it is increasingly hard to know who is telling the truth in what is a hard-fought propaganda war.

 

An al-Shabab spokesman said seven Kenyan soldiers were killed and two armoured vehicles destroyed during the ambush - which Kenya denies.

 

Somalia's internationally recognised transitional government said its forces, backed by Kenyans, had killed 36 insurgents in the counter-attack.

 

'Pure fabrications'

Kenyan army spokesman, Maj Emmanuel Chirchir, said two planes of arms had landed this week in the central town of Baidoa with the weapons for al-Shabab.

 

The BBC has not been able to independently verify whether any arms have landed in Baidoa. Media reports in Kenya and Somalia had suggested they came from Eritrea.

 

"The government of Eritrea states categorically that these accusations are pure fabrications and outright lies as Eritrea has not sent any arms to Somalia," Reuters news agency quotes Eritrea's foreign ministry as saying in a rare statement.

 

Maj Chirchir warned that air strikes against al-Shabab targets were imminent to prevent the weapons reaching militant bases.

 

He advised civilians in 10 towns to stay away from al-Shabab camps.

 

His warning follows controversy over the aerial bombardment of Jilib on Sunday in which he says a Kenya fighter jet hit al-Shabab positions, killing 10 militia fighters.

 

But the medical charity MSF-Holland said at least five people, including three children, died after a camp for internally displaced people was bombed.

 

Our correspondent says there is a real danger that a reliance on air power will make civilians more vulnerable and lead to the Kenyan mission becoming unpopular in Somalia.

 

People abducted from Kenya since September include a French woman suffering from cancer, who French authorities say has since died; a British woman taken from a coastal resort, whose husband was killed in the raid; and a Kenyan driver and two Spanish aid workers seized from the Dadaab refugee camp near the Kenya-Somalia border.

 

After two decades of civil conflict, Somalia is awash with guns and analysts say any number of groups could have carried out the kidnappings - including pirate gangs.

 

Al-Shabab is locked in a battle with the weak UN-backed interim government for control of the parts of the country which are currently outside its power, particularly the capital, Mogadishu.

[Alderman]

How sad that a nation of 4 and a half million people can hold three countries to ransom (Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia).

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Ethiopia is weakened by opposition and mismanagement by the TPLF regime.

 

Somalia is a failed state.

 

what did you expect

[Somalia]

Xaaji Xunjuf;755402 wrote:

Ethiopia is weakened by opposition and mismanagement by the TPLF regime.

 

Somalia is a failed state.

 

what did you expect

Why would you call your own nation "failed"? That's not nice, we haven't failed yet.

[Dabrow]

They claim Eritrea sending weapons.....

Kenya sendings troops they applaude.........

 

How long will they demonise Eritrea? Give them a rest!

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

lool Eritrea is being accused that they send weapons two the bad Boy's

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Kenya: Eritrea Arming Al Shabaab

 

Andrew Teyie and Dominic Wabala 2 November 2011

 

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Eritrea was yesterday accused of shipping heavy artillery and explosives to Somalia to arm the Al Shabaab fighting the joint assault by Kenya and Somalia forces to destroy the militias' strongholds in south Somalia.

Kenya military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir, in a briefing statement last evening stated: "We reliably confirmed that two aircrafts landed in Baidoa with arms consignment intended for Al Shabaab." Chirchir did not name Eritrea as the source of the weapons. However, internet sources including the Somalia Report, an internet based newsletter, reported that Eritrea flew in arms through Baidoa airport on Saturday.

 

Somalia MP Mahamud Abdullah Wehliye was quoted as accusing Eritrea of flying in weapons and explosives to Al Shabaab controlled Baidoa. "Eritrea officers have imported ... many modern weapons, including heavy artillery, bombs, light weapons and heavy ones. We got this information from Al Shabab officers in Baidoa", the MP is quoted as saying. "The Eritrean government is adding fuel to the worsening situation in Somalia. They are giving support to ... Al Shabaab. We request the United Nations and the internal community to step in," he added.

 

The newsletter quoted residents as saying that the Al Shabaab closed the area around the airport to allow in the shipments on Saturday. "After three hours, I saw more than ten vehicles coming from the airport to a building in the centre of the district," said the report.

 

 

 

In his briefing statement, Chirchir cautioned Somalia residents against being used as conduits for the arms. He cited several areas in the region which were targeted for attack as they were Al Shabaab camps. Addressing an Inter Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) meeting last July, President Kibaki accused Eritrea of arming the Al Shabaab insurgents. He asked Igad to rein in Eritrea, which was destabilising regional peace through supplying arms to Somali militants.

 

Yesterday several African countries agreed to deploy troops under African Union ( Amisom) to help the Somali Transitional Federal Government to keep peace in the areas liberated by Kenyan and TFG soldiers. Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Djibouti had already offered 1,000 troops while Uganda and Burundi were ready to offer more if the international community provided financial and technical support.

 

 

 

A misom has only 9,500 soldiers from Burundi and Uganda but at least 20,000 soldiers are needed to effectively carry out its mandate. Raila and Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Ali asked the international community to assist the thousands of civilians in the areas 'liberated' by the Kenyan and Somali TFG soldiers. "The US, France and Britain are also supporting us. The problem is equipment and funds to cater for them. They should support us in action not in words alone," said Raila.

 

Yesterday's appeal came as a regional Al Shabaab official, Sheikh Abukar Ada vowed to avenge the deaths of five people - two women and three children - killed when an Al Shabaab driver off a 'technical' battle vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun towards an IDP camp. The vehicle which was on fire and loaded with explosives exploded in the camp.

 

The incident followed Sunday's heavy aerial bombardment of military bases used by the Al Shabaab as a prison and a weapons storage facility which are near the camp. Yesterday Raila and his Somalia counterpart Abdiweli said they would investigate the circumstances leading to the deaths of five who included two adults and three children.

 

The two leaders met representatives of the European Union, the African Union, US, Britain, Canada, Igad, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, several Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, India and United Nation office in Nairobi and briefed them on the status of Kenya's incursion in Somalia and why Kenya had decided to take action. They appealed to the international not to suffer from 'aid fatigue' but to give hope to the people of Somalia by financial humanitarian and financial assistance that will introduce social and development projects in the country.

[omar12]

I still don't understand, why would Eritrea spend money on financing terrorist in Somalia. I really don't buy the whole they are fighting a proxy war with Ethiopia, it sounds way too theatrical. It's not like they're an al Qaeda sympathizer, what would they have to gain?

[Som@li]

Do you know who is sending weapons? Guess? Ethiopia!!

[Bashiir]

Som@li;755544 wrote:

Do you know who is sending weapons? Guess?

Ethiopia!!

I second that. It's Ethiopia!

[Jacaylbaro]

Kenya sending troops and weapons

Amisom sending troops and weapons

Ethiopia sending troops and weapons

Eritrea sending weapons

Saracen sending weapons & mercenaries

US sending Drones and troops

Djibouti sending troops and weapons

 

.................................................................... R.I.P Somalia