KDF Makes Great Progress in Somalia Operation

Written By maboko on Saturday, January 21, 2012 | 12:39 PM

Col Cyrus Oguna, who is in charge of information and operations, said the Kenyan military  is half way through its mission to eliminate Al Shabaab in Southern Somalia, the objective of Operation Linda Nchi, which enters its 15th week on Today.

Col Oguna said the assessment of the progress made so far is based on the recent airstrikes at Bibi and Jilib a week ago,  at Tatar the following day and Bula Haji in the Southern Sector on January 18.

A total of six vehicles- five Toyota Land Cruisers and a lorry- were destroyed in the airstrikes, with KDF saying it also killed six Al Shabaab commanders and an unknown number of members of the militia group.

Col Oguna said the destruction of the defensive and supply base at Bibi and another at a town known as Hayo were crucial to KDF’s mission to obliterate the group seen as a legitimate threat to Kenya’s stability and economy.

Al Shabaab has however managed to raid Kenyan territory in Wajir, where an estimated 100 of their fighters destroyed an Administration Police camp in Gerille in Wajir and abducted three men, two of them civil servants.

Col Oguna said the incident indicates the difficulty in identifying Al Shabaab members from ordinary Somali citizens, who pretend to be seeking medical assistance across the border as they carry out surveillance on possible targets.

Mr Owino asked for increased vigilance  and cooperation between restaurant operators and the police to avert possible terror attacks during the screening of Africa Cup of Nations football matches.