Somalia: Incursion by Kenyan Defence Forces Draws Mixed Reactions
By Eric Sande
NAIROBI---The campaigns to flush out the Al-Shabaab militia in Somalia, dates back to the 1990’s when the first contingent of UN troops under the United Nations Operation in Somalia, or UNOSOM, landed in Mogadishu to monitor a ceasefire after the fall of dictator Siad Barre. They deployed thousands of troops. Unfortunately, their mission was dealt a fatal blow when 18 US rangers sent to hunt down Aideed were killed in Mogadishu.
This led to a massive retreat of the UNOSOM and US forces in March 1995, leaving the local warlords to fight on. 150 UN personnel were killed during the mission. In June 2006, Islamist militia loyal to the Somalia Islamic Courts Council seized Mogadishu after defeating US-backed warlords.
The recent incursion by the Kenya Armed Forces into Somalia which took off in mid-October 2011 dubbed Operation Linda Nchi swahili for ‘Protect the country’, goes against all odds. There are fears that this foreign intervention might end like previous ones in Somalia by the United States and Ethiopia. “As it seems, it will end in retreat and failure,” said Professor Ibrahim Sheikh Hassan who used to teach political science at Strategy College in Mogadishu. Although Kenya has a well-equipped army, Professor Ibrahim said it has no experience in engaging in war with terrorists and guerrilla forces, adding that it will be hard for Kenyans to defeat al-Shabaab in Somalia.
He notes that pushing al-Shabaab back from the border will not be hard but keeping them at bay will be challenging. Regarding the small force of 2,000 men deployed by the Kenyan Army across the border, Professor Ibrahim says a force of this size is unlikely to penetrate far into al-Shabaab-held territory: “It seems to me that they know nothing about al-Shabaab and the conflict in Somalia.”
Kenya blames al-Shabaab for a series of kidnappings and cross-border incursions that threaten security and the lucrative tourism industry in East Africa's largest economy.
As its troops continue to surge in al-Shabaab territories, it is said that they have already captured six towns during their six-day military onslaught against the militants, including the pirates’ haven of Ras Kamboni, Dhobley, Tabda, Beles Qooqani, Oddo and Kolbio.
According to Somalian military officials, air-strikes bombed targets in the southern town of Kismayo, an al-Shabaab stronghold. Although the origin of the assault jet could not be determined, French media have speculated that it could belong to the French military. Al-Shabaab said that the attack has caused no casualties.
So far, at least five civilians including children have been killed in the air strike on a camp for displaced people in southern Somalia, according to Médecins san Frontières (MSF). Kenya's military has blamed the deaths on Islamist rebels.
On Tuesday, the Kenyan military warned residents of 10 towns, namely, Baidoa, Baadheere, Baydhabo, Dinsur, Afgooye, Bwale, Barawe, Jilib, Kismayu and Afmadow not to go near Al-Shabaab bases because it would strike them to destroy the weapons.
As the Kenyan incursion continues, Al-Shabaab has ratcheted up its war rhetoric, warning that Kenya will pay dearly for its campaign. They have threatened retaliatory attacks in Kenya if authorities do not withdraw troops from Somalia.
“Kenya has peace, its cities have tall buildings and business is flourishing there, while Somalia is in chaos. If your government ignores our calls to stop its aggression on Somali soil, we will strike at the heart of your interests,” said Shaykh Ali Mohamud Dheere, an al-Shabaab spokesman.
Somali refugees have in their large numbers fled their country into Kenya through the border town of Liboi, escaping the raging battle characterized by bombing raids by Kenya Air Force jets and the ground assault.
Since the military incursion, there have been two grenade attacks in Nairobi and two vehicles have been attacked in northern Kenya. Al-Shabaab leaders have called for "huge attacks" in Kenya.
Early on 24 October, a Russian made F1 grenade was detonated at the Mwauras, apub in downtown Nairobi. The detonation injured 14 people. The local police linked the attack to al-Shabaab. It was followed by a second attack at evening against a bus stop. The second attack killed at least one person and injured eight. A suspect was arrested and pleaded guilty for both attacks. He said that he is a member of al-Shabaab. Identified by the media as Elgiva Bwire Oliacha (alias Mohamed Seif), a recent Kenyan Muslim convert, he was sentenced to life in prison after having pleaded guilty. The man reportedly smiled at cameras, stated that he had no regrets, and indicated that he would not appeal his sentence.
This devastating attacks in Nairobi, have steered up anti-Muslim sentiments. It has turned to a source of great concern for Kenya’s Somali population, and by extension, the minority Muslim community which rests on the threat of reprisals by Al-Shabaab against targets in Kenya.
Recently a Muslim woman dressed in bui bui- a loose, floor-length gown and head covering favoured by Muslim women was attacked in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) near the OTC bus terminus.
Due to these concerns, many mosques have resorted to issuing “travel advisories” to the faithful urging them to take precautions while outdoors and avoid activities which could single them out as a threat to peace.
Sparking fear among the residents, Kenya’s Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh last week talked about a major operation being mounted in Eastleigh, a Somalis dominated area in Nairobi, which he described as the nerve centre of Al-Shabaab, many of who harbour vivid recollections about the viciousness of past operations.
The Kenyan government so far has not come up with practical measures to assure Kenyan Somalis that the offensive against Al-Shabaab would not portend worse times for them through blanket vengeance against them and the Muslim community.