New Kenyan warship likely to boost African Union Mission in Somalia

New Europe
Monday, August 27, 2012

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A decade after it was ordered, the Kenyan Navy took delivery of its latest $56 million warship, the KNS Jasiri, Daily Nation reported.

The ship is equipped with long-range cannons, missile launchers, machine guns and advanced radar and communications systems, an official with Kenya’s Department of Defense said.

The ship is expected to be used to combat piracy and militancy.The Kenyan Defence Forces, alongside other soldiers, are under the Africa Union Mission in Somalia, which is believed to be preparing an assault on the Southern Somali port of Kismayo, the stronghold of the Islamist insurgent group, Al Shabbab.

Kenya has been criticised for civilian casualties after their navy shelled Kismayo in 11 August. A Kenyan naval ship fired four shells at an al-Shabaab anti-aircraft emplacement and at the jetty in Kismayo. Human Rights Watch claim that two youths and a pregnant woman were killed and two others wounded during the exchange of fire.

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