Somali residents living in fear of Kenya attacks

[xiinfaniin]

Friday, November 04, 2011

 

Residents of Somali towns targeted by Kenyan forces fighting Shebab rebels said on Friday they were caught between two fears: getting hit in an air raid or being accused of spying for Nairobi.

 

In Baidoa, one of the 10 towns singled out this week by Kenya for attack, residents say they spend as little time as possible outdoors, fearing that a bombardment would unleash dangerous rock shards from the huge boulders that dot the area.

 

"People who used to go out farming now spend the shortest possible time outside," said Mohamed Samow, a local resident.

 

"Everybody is worried now and we hear the sound of aircraft flying over the whole region everyday," he added.

 

"Baidoa is rocky. This will increase the casualties including civilians if a bomb is dropped," Samow said. "Some people are contemplating whether to flee... there is real worry which has never been seen in this town before."

 

Kenya deployed troops into Shebab-controlled southern Somalia last month to battle the Al-Qaeda-inspired rebels it blames for kidnapping foreigners on its soil and conducting cross-border raids.

 

The Islamist militants, who deny the accusations, warned Kenya on Thursday of "cataclysmic consequences" and are watching the civilian population with suspicion.

 

Some residents say the militants have been seizing mobile phones of people they suspect of spying for the Somali government and the Kenyan troops.

 

"Two men were taken for questioning and their phones confiscated," said Mohamed Abdullahi Isak, a Baidoa resident. "There are many fighters who are infiltrating civilians to see if anyone is indicating targets. Everyone is worried."

"Al-Shebab fighters are conducting security operations region-wide," Isak added.

 

The Kenyan military also said the Shebab this week received three planeloads of weapons in Baidoa, and on Thursday army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the rebels were using donkeys to transport the arms.

 

Kenya is seeking to prevent the Shebab, who control most of southern Somalia, from attacking its territory and launched the offensive in mid-October.

 

Despite voicing security worries over the years about the extremist militia, Nairobi had held off from an outright battle against the Shebab, preferring to offer military training and diplomatic support to Somalia's weak government.

 

Chirchir on Tuesday urged residents in 10 southern Somali towns to avoid rebel camps as the army prepared to attack.

 

In the Shebab-held port town of Kismayo, residents said the insurgents were moving their weapons elsewhere to avoid damage by the Kenyan air raids, leaving locals fearing for the worst.

 

"I have seen trucks loaded with supplies. They headed to unknown locations because armed vehicles guarded those trucks. Shebab fighters are changing positions," said a Kismayo resident who gave his name only as Dahir.

 

"It is the civilians who are worried most here in Kismaio. We have heard civilians bombed in a camp in Jilib and the same could happen here if these Kenyans keep attacking towns," added Dahir, referring to an air strike on a southern Somali town last week.

 

Kismayo pharmacist Ahmed Artan told AFP it would be difficult for the Kenyan forces to strictly bombard Shebab targets.

 

"We think that Kenya does not have sophisticated technology and if they target these towns, it will be hard for them to distinguish targets, and for sure there will be huge civilian casualties," Artan said.

 

"People are used to seeing civilians killed in air strikes on television in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, but now it has came to Somalia."

[xiinfaniin]

Blinded by local clan politicking, this is in a nutshell is what The Zack, and Prof Abtigiis are celebrating for. I know Prof Abtigiis will change his position once he regains his senses and puts on his analyst hat , as he will realize that poor African troops will at best create buffer zones and install friendly militias, and will never defeat Alshabaab. Once he sees the long of hand of Ethiopia oo xaabaysa Afmadow and bushes of Fafaxdhuun I know he will have second thoughts.

 

But I don't see The Zack reversing his support for this new adventure however disastrous the consequence will have become.

[sharma-arke451]

the invassion of kenya cannot be equated to the the alshabab factor.

Irrespective of how alshabab are bad, the kenya army are worse multiple times.

 

This statement will be best understood at the end of the war.