Kenya Wants U.S and E.U. Help With Al-Shabab Attack

The country wants to boot the militants from its Somali stronghold, Kismayo. 
By Naeesa Aziz
Posted: 06/12/2012 02:16 PM EDT
Filed Under Somalia, Global News, Africa, Raila Odinga, Kenya, Al-Shabab

Considering last week’s bizarre camel bounty placed on President Obama, Somali militant group and al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabab has not ceased to cause a stir in the Horn of Africa, claiming dominance over a large region of Somalia and refusing to relinquish control. Now Kenya, a staunch adversary of al-Shabab, is asking the two largest Western powers to send money and weapons to help put down the militants once and for all. The Associated Press reports:


"Kenya is seeking U.S. and European assistance to aid in its planned attack on a militant port town in southern Somalia, Kenya's prime minister said Tuesday.

Raila Odinga said that Kenyan forces are preparing for a "final onslaught" on the Somali port town of Kismayo by August, when the U.N. mandate of Somalia's transitional government expires. Kismayo is controlled by al-Shabab militants who get a significant portion of their operating expenses by levying "taxes" on the port.

Kenyan troops entered Somalia after a rash of militant attacks on Kenyan soil, including the kidnappings of several foreigners. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have fled violence and famine in Somalia and now live in Kenya. More than 600,000 Somali refugees live in the Dadaab refugee camp, and Odinga said Kenya hosts 1 million Somali refugees overall."

Read the full story here.


 

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(Photo: AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

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