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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Kibaki: Why there is no turning back



By Ben Agina and PPS
The Government made it clear there is no turning back and that the operation against Al Shabaab would continue until Kenya’s national security and economic interests are secured.
President Kibaki – who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces – took the message to the international stage that Kenya is determined to carry out military action against the rag-tag militia, was in response to escalating insecurity and violation of Kenya’s territorial integrity by the insurgents.
Speaking during an executive session of the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government in Perth, Australia, President Kibaki stated that Kenya is not at war with Somalia, but is carrying out military action against the Islamic militia, which is a non-state actor that has been perpetrating blatant attacks, abductions, and killings of innocent civilians.
The President’s hard talk came on a day that the Kenya’s Defence Forces successfully captured the town of Bargavoin in Somalia. This is a key town for charcoal and fish business and was under the control of the Al Shabaab. A statement issued by the military spokesperson Major E Chirchir said Kenyan soldiers killed 18 pirates and captured two skiffs.
Kenyan soldiers have killed 18 Al Shabaab fighters in Somalia and taken control of several towns. [PICTURE: MAXWEL AGWANDA/STANDARD]
The town was captured a day after Kenya’s forces engaged Al Shabaab fighters in a gun battle, killing nine of them in what the Government has named Operation Linda Nchi (Kiswahili for protect the nation).
Soldiers injured
The statement also said that one of the two soldiers who were injured in the frontline died yesterday.
The soldiers were among the Kenyan troops who directly engaged the Al Qaeda-linked group after 45 Al Shabaab militants attacked them, as they were moving from the recently captured Tabda to Beles Qooqani to reinforce the frontline of the military engagement.
Nine militants were killed in the battle while two soldiers were injured, one critically.
The two were airlifted from the scene and taken to Moi Forces Memorial Hospital in Nairobi for treatment.
"This loss goes to strengthen our objective to defeat Al Shabaab in order to attain peace for Kenyans and Somalis," said the statement from the Department of Defence.
On the homeland security front, a court in Nairobi sentenced to life imprisonment a self-confessed member of Al Shabaab, Elgiva Bwire Oliacha alias Mohamed Seif who was arrested on Tuesday in possession of 13 grenades, an AK 47 rifle, a sub-machine gun, and four revolvers.
In Garissa, three GSU officers were injured after a grenade was hurled at their vehicle.
It was also a day when Defence Minister Yusuf Haji was categorical that the Government does not have plans to either negotiate with the militia or withdraw the military from Somalia.
President Kibaki told the Commonwealth meeting that Kenya had no intentions of keeping troops in Somalia longer than is necessary, but will undertake the mission established under the operation to protect the country.
At the same time Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohammed Ali said in a statement that his country and Kenya shared a common strategy against Al Shabaab and its terrorist affiliates.
"Somali Government views the fights against Al Shabaab extremist as direct support extended to the Somali people and as an action that will improve the security of Somalia, Kenya, and of the entire Horn of Africa," he stated.
Militia’s tyranny
He also commended the Somalia Government forces that are engaged in the war against Al Shabaab to free the country from the militia’s tyranny.
Haji said Kenya had not received any official communication from the Somali government protesting the presence of Kenya’s military in the neighbouring country.
"We have sought a statement from the Somali government following the remarks by their president. We will issue an official statement on Monday or Tuesday next week on the matter," said the minister.
Haji also dismissed claims that the Government had entered into talks with the Al Shabaab and explained that the troops were still battling the militia group.
The US Ambassador to Kenya Scott Gration said his country was not involved in the security operations in Somalia.
In Australia, President Kibaki informed the session, chaired by the Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, that the country’s current mission in Somalia is meant to deal with the continued threat posed by Al Shabaab to Kenya’s national security and economic interests.
Said the President: "Our mission in Somalia is therefore, based on a legitimate right to protect Kenya’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity".
President Kibaki emphasised that that the prolonged conflict in Somalia has progressively mutated into activities that threaten the security of Kenya and other neighbouring states, the region and the international community.
Saying that Kenya is working with the African Union, IGAD and the Somali Transitional Federal Government to create safe zones within the war torn country, the Head of State called on the international community to support efforts towards stabilising Somalia.
Return of refugees
Such support, President Kibaki noted, would enable the Transitional Federal Institutions to establish local administration to provide basic social and economic infrastructure while facilitating the return of refugees to Somalia and reduce the heavy security and economic burden for Kenya.
"Kenya can no longer bear the burden of hosting the massive number of refugees and calls upon the Commonwealth to support efforts to facilitate their return to Somalia or relocation to another country," the President said.
He gave an assurance of Kenya’s commitment to continue working closely with the TFG, IGAD, AU and the international community to deal decisively with the threat posed by Al Shabaab and other armed terrorist militias.
"It is therefore in the interest of the region, the Commonwealth and the international community to support efforts towards strengthening the Transitional Federal Government and its institutions as well as provision of sustainable funding for the Amisom forces in Somalia," President Kibaki noted.
President Kibaki stressed that in the absence of a stable government in Somalia, piracy in the Indian Ocean and other illegal activities cannot be effectively tackled.
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