A Kenyan security official told Reuters that two Kenyan soldiers were killed and four wounded when they were ambushed by al Shabaab militants in an area close to Afmadow, southern Somalia. This is the first official report since the death of five soldiers due a helicopter crash shortly after takeoff from Liboli airfield, eastern Kenya, last Sunday.
However, a police source in Garissa, a Kenyan border town, told AFP, last Wednesday, that there were Kenyan casualties.
On the other hand, Kenyan officials confirmed that three officers suffered minor injury when a Kenya Navy speed boat on patrol duty was hit by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launched by pirates ashore at Ras Kiamboni in Somalia last Monday.
The Kenyan military claimed to have killed some 73 Al Shabaab militias earlier in the week, though Al-Shabaab denied it claiming that there has not been serious fighting so far. The Kenyans claimed further that Al-Shabaab might have lost in hundreds due to airstrikes.
Nairobi declared war on Al-Shabaab and confirmed it had moved its forces into Somalia, last Sunday. Analysts estimate at least 2,000 Kenyan troops are taking part in the military assault, dubbed Operation Linda Nchi (a Swahili phrase translated as for Operation Protect our Country or the Nation).
Media reports on Friday indicated that ‘armored vehicles and trucks carrying weaponry, food supplies and tents were seen leaving four military camps and heading toward the Somali border on Thursday and Friday’. Reuters quoted a resident at Diff village in Wajir south district, near the Kenyan-Somali border, as saying that ‘convoys of military vehicles had been crossing the border for the last four days’. The source also said: "More army men aboard military trucks are still passing here, heading to Somalia,….The whole area is like a war zone. It’s like the whole of our military is going to Somalia."
It appears the Kenyans entered Somalia from at least three direction, according to media reports. (see the map at the bottom)
Kenyan media indicated that the Kenyan troops secured a foot hold in Ras Kiamboni on Thursday. Ras Kamboni is a town few kilometers from the southernmost side the Kenyan-Somali border.
On the other hand, Kenyan troops movement was reported have also been reported on the northernmost of the Kenyan-Somali border, and in the Luuq town, Somalia.
However, the main front is apparently in the direction of Afmadow.
Afmadow: A major showdown is expected at Afmadow where Al-Shabaab has been fortifying in the last week. However, the Kenyans have yet to launch an attack. Military spokesperson Major Emmanuel Chirchir told reporters that ‘Our troops are still trying to attack from Qooqani…..and the target is Afmadow, that is where the forces are headed,….There has been a problem of bad weather’.
Some news outlets reported that Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces were fighting Al-Shabaab militants near Afmadow, but it is not clear if it is coordinated with the airstrikes by the Kenyans jets which has been going on for most of the past week.
The main base of of the Kenyan troops is said to be at Billis Qooqani, few kilometres west of Afmadow.
Radio-Widhwidh reported on Thursday that ‘residents there had reported seeing the Kenyans digging trenches near Afmadow. Al Shabaab militants were also reported rushing fighters to Afmadow from Kismayu.’
Al-Shabaab
Media reports indicated that Al-Shabaab excuted two two men for spying on Friday. ‘The two men were brought into an open ground, tied to a pole and shot by masked men’, according to eyewitnesses. An wittness was quoted as saying that: "some of the spectators vomited, and women cried when they saw the men being shot. They were well known to us,"…."They told us to come out for a religious sermon then they brought the two boys and executed them. Those who wanted to flee were ordered to stay. It was awful".
The execution came after Al-Shabaab arrested about 20 individuals on allegations of supporting the Kenyan forces on Tuesday in that town. Reports indicated that well-known businessmen were among those arrested.
Shabelle Media Network reported on Tuesday that: the Al shabaab officials warned the residents of Jubba regions against supporting Kenyan troops who entered the country. The group, who announced its allegiance to Al Qaeda network, called on the people of Jubba regions to take part in defending their country from Kenyan forces.
An Al-Shabaab officials reiterated the warning against the Kenyans last Thursday saying ‘We are warning Kenyan troops against their invasion". He added, "Tthey [the Kenyans] can see what we did to their Christian brothers,’ a reference to the bodies Al-Shabaab put on display last Thursday near Mogadishu claiming they are Burundi’s peacekeeping troops.
Regional support
The Kenyan military operation has received regional backing in the past week. Kenyan Foreign Minister Wetang’ula and Defence Minister Yusuf Haji travelled to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, the headquarters of the Africa Union.
The Kenyan Foreign Minister told reporters on Wednesday that:
‘the Prime Minister gave Ethiopia’s unequivocal support for Kenya’s efforts to eliminate this (Al Shabaab) menace. He said that any threat to Kenya’s security is a threat to the horn of Africa and urged us to use everything at our disposal to eliminate the menace,
‘We also had a special message for the chairman of the African Union, Dr Ping from our president. We briefed him on the events on the Kenya-Somalia border and Dr Ping was in full support of what we are doing to deal with the security threat’.
The African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping assured them that Kenya has a right to protect her economic and security interests and he would defend Kenya’s military action against al Shabaab at the United Nations Security Council, according to Kenyan media.
Similarly, Ugandan acting Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Okello-Oryem said on Wednesday that ‘Kenya has a right of defence when their security is threatened’.
In a related development, member states of the a Horn of Africa grouping, IGAD, are expected to hold a meeting here on Friday to discuss the situation in Somalia, the sub-region in general and developmental issues. Kenya sent its foreign and defence ministers and head of the armed forces.
[Compiled from several news outlets.]
Map: Kenyan troops movement and nearest Al-Shabaab bases (based on media reports)
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Stay tuned for more updates.
Previous reports on Operation Linda Nchi
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