Somalia: Kenya Navy Shells Key Town

By Staff Writer

MOGADISHU--The Kenyan navy has hit Somalia’s port town of Kismayo, the last bastion held by the Islamist militants, in preparation for the major onslaught to capture the strategic town.

The Kismayo port city remains significant to financing and providing supplies to the al-Shabab fighters following their loss of the capital, Mogadishu, to the government forces backed by African Union (AU) troops last year.

Its fall could mean the beginning of the end for the group that has been battling the outgoing Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to impose Islamic rule throughout Somalia.

 The Kenyan navy has been shelling targeted areas in the city since Saturday continuing into Tuesday in preparations of a major assault by ground troops to seize control of the town.

 “The Kenyan forces targeted an arms store, a mounted gun position and a road block set up by the fighters”, Col. Cyrus Oguna, a military spokesperson, said, adding that the attack was part of a plan by an AU force to capture the city.

 Residents fleeing the city amidst fears of a big battle, said areas around the seaport and airport had been targeted by the shells and now al-Shabab fighters were seen preparing weapons for the clash.

 The move to takeover Kismayo comes as the newly selected Somali parliament prepares to elect a new president on 10 September under a UN-brokered peace roadmap.

Kenya sent its troops to Somalia last year to seek the al-Qaeda-linked group it claims was responsible of several kidnappings and grenade attacks in its territory. The Kenyan troops have since joined the AU force, composed of mainly Ugandan and Burundian troops boosting its numbers to 18,000.

 Driven out of the capital and other key towns, the al-Shabab has resorted to using suicide and roadside bombings in major towns, though it still controls areas in central and southern Somalia.

 A UN report in July said export of charcoal from Kismayo and Merca to mainly Middle East has helped fuel the al-Shabab insurgency, despite a UN Security Council ban on charcoal from the country.

 Somalia has never had a stable government since ousting of dictatorial leader Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 that saw the onset of a long-standing bloody civil war, fueled by inter-clan feuds.