Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Minister for Defense Mr. Yusuf Haji has appealed to humanitarian and food aid agencies to take their services to parts of Somalia that have been liberated from the Al-shabaab.
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| The minister cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the support by the Somalia Transitional Federal Government | |
Addressing local and international Media during a press conference at the Department of Defense Headquarters on the progress of the government military initiative dubbed Operation Linda Nchi, the minister assured aid agencies that the government will provide them with adequate security.
He added that Somali citizens are happy that the Kenyan defense forces have liberated them from the Al-shabaab.
"As a country we are not at war with the Somali government but pursuing criminals who have sabotaged our economy and denied food aid agencies access to refugee camps after destabilizing their government." said Yusuf.
He added that the government is fighting terrorists who have threatened "our national interests "and not a Christian/Muslim war, saying he himself is a Somali.
The minister cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the support by the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG) saying that they were working closely with TFG.
"Saitoti and I were in Mogadishu where we spoke to the Somali Prime Minister and we have a communiqué where he approved the operations and stated that Kenyan security forces will be given logistical support by the TFG."
Pursuit of criminals
Speaking at the same function Chief of Defense Forces, General Julius Karangi said that Kenyan security forces had a ten day period of intervention between 4th October to 14th October this year and that the military operation was not preplanned as alleged.
"We acted as a country at the spur of the moment and we did what any self respecting country would do and our intention is not to annex or invade but we are in pursuit of criminals who have violated our borders."
Karangi cited occasions where the foreign militia violated our borders and attacked our security personnel starting with the 2009 Dajabula Police Post, Liboi GSU camp the same year and kidnapping of two military officers.
Laying of land mines targeting the police and the recent kidnappings plus abductions as well as piracy along the coastal region were also among the vices he cited.
He said that the Kenyan forces had the right to self defense by invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter and the cabinet approved the military operation.
He denied allegations that the Kenyan government are in Somalia to create another Juba land in Somalia.
"Our operation is consistent with our foreign policy and if Al-shabaab is hiding in juba land we will pursue them there." Stated Karangi.