Thursday, July 11, 2013
The Federal Government of Somalia wants the African Union to intervene and withdraw the Kenya Defense Forces from Kismayu.
There has been growing discord by the Somalia government in Mogadishu
on KDF's operation in the port city of Kismayu in Jubba region.
In a letter dated June 30 from Somalia's Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam to the African
Union, the country accused KDF for fanning clan rivalry in Kismayu thus
hindering attempts by Somalia defence forces to bring peace and
stability in the region.
"Unfortunately, the joint Amisom primary focus as well as the
momentum of our success against Al-Shabaab has come to a halt," the
letter said.
"Instead of facilitating the formation of the command and control of
the federal government forces stationed in the Jubba region, the
commander of Amisom sector two is discouraging various initiatives of
the Defence ministry of Somalia, hence preventing the creation of a
cohesive force under one unified command. He has encouraged the
formation of various clan factions whose schism is hindering peace and
stability of the Jubba region."
The letter accuses sector two (where the KDF are based) Amisom
commander Brigadier Antony Ngere for incompetence, poor judgement and
abuse of power.
It accuses the entire force of being partisan and using high calibre
weapons that have resulted to heavy civilian casualties and
displacement.
The letter calls for immediate inquiry into the KDF operation in Kismayu.
It indicates that Somalia wants KDF recalled and deployment of Amisom multi-national force
It demands for nomination of new Amisom political officers whose nationalities will be different from those in sector two.
This means that all Kenyans serving in the Amisom political office in Mogadishu should be recalled.
This comes days after a lobby group, Northern Peace Watch, protested a
move by authorities in Mogadishu to eject KDF from Somalia fearing that
removal of KDF will give a leeway for the al Shabaab to regroup and
take over.
They said it will create instability that will spill over to Kenya.
In a letter signed by NPW secretary general Ahmed Omar, the lobby
groups accused Somalia's minister of State for Presidency Farah Sheikh
Abdiqadir, MPs Abdullahi Goodax Bare and Abdirahman Hosh Jibril of
falsely creating the impression that KDF was incompetent and should be
withdrawn from Kismayu.
The letter is addressed to Inspector General of Police and copied to
the Foreign Affairs ministry, National Security and Intelligence
Service, CID and the Interior and Coordination ministry.