Wednesday September 20, 2017
KDF withdraws from Bardhere, Southern Somalia
Troops of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) have withdrawn from a town in Somalia's southern region, Gedo, official ad witnessess said on Wednesday.
Bardhere which lies 451 km southwest of Mogadishu was seized from Alshabaab militants in July 2015 following military advance.
Gedo deputy governor, Ismail Sheikh Ismail who spoke to Hiraan Online has confirmed the withdrawal of the Kenyan troops who are working under the framework of African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM).
“Kenyan troops under AMISOM troops who were manning the town for a long time have left the town, heading to Elwak (a town at Somalia’s border with Kenya),” said Ismail.
The move comes just a week after Somali government told Security Council that 2018 AMISOM withdrawal would be immature as the horn of Africa nation is yet get strong troop who can take in charge of the country security.
Official underscored that they have troops to defend the town from the militants.
“There will be no gap, the withdrawal of the KDF will have no impact on the town as we have capable Somali troops,” Ismail affirmed.
A resident said that the AMISOM base in the town has been vacated early today as the town residents witnessed the withdrawal of the troops without prior notice.
“We saw AMISOM convoys going out of the town, we know nothing about the cause of the withdrawal but the town is stable,” said the resident.
Kenya sent its troops to Somalia in 2011 following allegations that Alshabaab militants kidnapped aid workers from inside Kenya.
Alshabaab carried out several retaliation attacks on Kenyan troops in Gedo region.
In January 2015, the group launched deadly attack on KDF Operation Base in El-Adde town leading the death of over 100 Kenyan soldiers.
The government of Kenya is yet to display the figure of the felled soldiers but the militants claimed to have killed over 180 soldiers and took over thirty others as prisoners of war.
AMISOM troops who are from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Djibouti and Nigeria support Somali government forces to defeat Alshabaab militants.