The Star
Monday, March 05, 2012
The Kenyan army incursion into Somalia will end only after the
war-torn country becomes stable, Operation Linda Nchi spokesman Cyrus
Oguna has said.
Oguna said the forces may withdraw from Somalia on
October 31 alongside African troops, Amisom, only if the al Shabaab
terror thugs will have been defeated. He said this on Saturday during
the weekly briefing on the status of the war on al shabaab. Oguna
reiterated that KDF’s exit from Somalia will depend on the two
countries’ security and ability to resume normal life devoid of fear
from the militia. KDF has joined Amisom in an international
move that is aimed at strengthening effort to restore calm and bring
order in the Horn of Africa state. Addis Ababa will this week host a
meeting of the four nations whose troops are fighting al Shabaab in
Somalia. The meeting will among other issues discuss the transition
phase based on the timeline that will follow the expiry date of Amisom
mandate.
While affirming KDF’s commitment to safely
guard its territorial borders and repulse threats from the terror group,
Oguna assured Kenyans that the war is on course. “We will not relent
on our quest for the national security, and our efficiency will not go
down,” Oguna said. He exuded confidence that al Shabaab will soon be
wiped out, as the soldiers’ combine efforts with the Transitional
Federal Governmentss. Last week the forces destroyed 15 al Shabaab
technicals following three airstrikes in Bahare and Tabda, where more
militiamen were eliminated. “Our intention is to degrade the Al shabaab
by destroying their sources of funding,” Oguna said, adding that KDF
was targeting infrastructure and equipment owned by the militia.
One
of the raids was conducted on the Western side of Somalia in what was
perceived as efforts by the Al shabaab to flee into Kenya, while aiming
to gain access to the refugee camps. “The killings have left the Al
shabaab extremely damaged and weakened,” he said, and appealed for
vigilance. The militia is reported to be rooting for exit points from
south and west.
Kenya has lost 10 soldiers since the invasion
into Somalia five months ago, while two others whose whereabouts is
unknown have been reported as “missing in action”. Two government
officials who were captured by the insurgents are yet to be released,
even as Oguna appealed for calm as local leaders continue to negotiate
for their freedom.