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US send arms to Somalia |
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News Watch
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Saturday, 27 June 2009 |
The United States of America has sent weapons and ammunition to the beleaguered Somali's Transitional Government to help it fight off the fast advancing Al-Shabaab militia that is threatening to overrun the troubled Horn of African state. The sent ammunition were approved by the United Nations.
This decision by the Obama administration was the first direct intervention by the US since 1993, when several US soldiers were killed in Somalia. This follows a plea by the country's embattled president Sheikh Sharif Ahmed to the world to his government fight the Al-KAeda linked militia.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan military and other security organs have been put on red alert, as Kenya moves to secure its boarders in the face of an advancing Al-Shabaab militia. The military platoon along the Kenya-Somali boarder has been strengthened.
In fact, media reports have indicated that Kenya is ready to attack the militia if it makes good it threats to attack Kenya if it (Kenya) responds to the president's plea for help.
According to the Chief of General Staff General Jeremiah Kianga, the militia will make a tactical error if it dares attack Kenya. He added that the Al-Shabaab leaders have never known how to fight with an organised army like Kenya's. Kenya is considered a military power in the east African region.
Last week, the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affair, Moses Wetangula, hinted at military intervention by Kenya if the situation in Somalia takes a turn for the worse. He added that Kenya will not sit back and watch while its security is at risk.
Al-Shabaab has on many occasions threatened to attack Kenya, and even laid claim to the North Eastern Province that is populated by Kenyan ethnic Somalis.
The militia has made several incursions into the Kenyan territory. Last month, a military chopper from a patrol mission crashed along the boarder, after allegedly being shot down by the militia fighters.
Sources had indicated that the militia planned to blow up a crucial bridge that links the Northern Kenya and the rest of the country, hence the decision by the Kenyan government to increase military and military patrols alomg the Kenya -Somali boarder.
Many youths were turned back as they tried to cross into Kenya through the boarder points of Liboi, Kiunga and Mandera towns.
Other reports have indicated the the international troops patrolling the troubled waters off the Somali coast to fight pirates are awaiting an order from the UN to launch airstrikes against Al-Shabaab and its positions.
According to a security expert, Simiyu Werunga, Kenya would play a major role in providing a base and logistics if such a venture is to happen. Werunga is a retired soldier.
Ethiopia
On its part, the Ethiopian government has downplayed the situation in Somalia, saying that it is not planning to send in its troops because what it termed as exaggerated pleas by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi however added that if the Al-Shabaab militia poses a threat to his country, the government will not hesitate to send in its troops.
Ethiopia sent its soldiers into Somalia in 2006, and successfully routed out the Union of Islamic Courts which had overrun the country. The militia was then led by the current president.
Somalia has not had a stable government since Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991.
Under the military dictatorship, Somalia went to war with Kenya and Ethiopia, due to Siad Barres expansionist dreams. He had planned to annex Kenya's North Eastern Province, Djibouti and Ethiopia's Ogaden Province to Somalia, and make a larger Somali territory. Somalia lost in both wars, and for many years, Somalia has had strained relations with her neighbours.
Today, over a million Somali refugees have fled to Kenya since a nasty civil war broke out in the country.
The wars is to said to be funded by warlords who are mostly based in Kenya. The current upsurge in fighting has made many more civilians flee to Kenya. Over fifty members of parliament and ministers have also fled to Kenya.
AfricaNews
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