Thursday, January 30, 2014
RESIDENTS of of Kismayo in Somalia yesterday demonstrated against the relocation of Kenya Defence Force troops from the city.
Earlier this month Amsiom Chiefs of Defence met in Addis Ababa and resolved that troops from Sierra Leone, who joined their KDF counterparts mid last year, will take over command of Kismayo at the end of next month in what will now be referred to as Amisom’s operation in Sector 5 (Kismayo).
The Sector 5 operation will have one Sierra Leonean battalion of troops in Kismayo accompanied by troops from Burundi and Kenya, and a police unit from Nigeria.
There has been attempts by the Federal Government of Somalia to remove KDF troops from Kismayo due to allegations that KDF was supporting the interim Jubaland administration government, which declined to recognise a warlord sent by the Somalia central government to administer the liberated area.
Thousands of demonstrators carrying placards in support of KDF's presence in the port city marched to Kismayo Football stadium accompanied by Jubaland interim administration officials including Interior and Security minister Mohamed Warsame Darwish.
The demonstrators chanted slogans in support of the KDF as they were addressed by senior Jubaland interim administration officials.
"Yes, KDF provides medical assistance to Jubaland people. The KDF troops are the friends of people of Jubaland," read some of the slogans.
The demonstrators said they were protesting against the replacement and transfer of Kenyan troops from Kismayo.
"We never had any problems with Kenyan troops since they came to Kismayo. They provide medical assistance. They are friendly to the people of Jubaland,’’ said one protester.
The residents accused the Federal Government in Mogadishu of attempting to bring back past hostilities by supporting the proposal to replace Kenyan troops with a weaker Sierra Leone contingent.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that there were other demonstrations in support of KDF in various towns in lower Juba and in the Dadaab Refugee camp where most of the displaced Somalis are hosted.
The Somalia Federal Government, last June accused the Kenyan troops in Kismayo of supporting Ras Kamboni Brigade fighters leader and current Jubaland Interim Administration president Ahmed Islam aka Sheikh Madobe and send a letter to AU Peace Commission requesting the replacement of Kenyan troops in Kismayo with a multinational force.
Meanwhile, two suspected Al Shabaab ammunition dealers were last night arrested while attempting to purchase ammunition from Somalia National Army soldiers in a KDF controlled area.
According to Major Emmanuel Chirchir, the two were lured into a trap by the SNA after they made inquiries about purchasing PKM gun ammunition.
Major Chirchir said that the desparate move by the al Shabaab fighters was an indication that they have run out of weapons and a possibility of direct confrontation with AMISOM troops in the near future was remote.
“Two al Shabaab ammunition dealers arrested in Afmadhow as they attempt to buy PKM rounds. Somali Army posed as dealers and lured al Shabaab. Al Shabaab running low on ammunition, possibility of direct confrontation with Amisom troops very minimal,” Major Chirchir tweeted yesterday.
Source: The Star