You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Africa Horn
Somalia FG accuses Kenyan troops of ‘misbehaving’
2013-05-28
This is a proxy attack. Kenya apparently has been supporting certain separatists in southern Somalia who went and formed their own 'state' called Jubaland. That has tweaked off the Somali Federal Government, though the latter controls only a half-dozen city blocks in Mog in its own right and depends on AMISOM troops for everything else.
MOGADISHU -– Somali Federal Government (SFG) President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused a contingent of AMISOM forces in Kismayo of ‘misbehaving’ while a SFG delegation was visiting the port city, Garowe Online reports. President Hassan accused Kenyan troops under the mandate of AMISOM of misbehaving and acting outside their mandate. After a delegation of SFG officials who arrived in Kismayo were allegedly refused security detail by AMISOM forces.

“For us we have no complaint against Kenya, but part of the AMISOM contingent on the ground have misbehaved and they operated outside their mandate,” said President Hassan at the summit.

Kenyan military spokesman Bogeta Ongeri rejected the accusation made by President Hassan stating that he was "shocked" by the accusation. Spokesman Ongeri said that the Kenyan military handled all security for officials from Mogadishu as well as their sleeping quarters including Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon who visited Kismayo earlier this year.

After the accusation, President Hassan went on to reject the election of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Madoobe and the formation of Jubaland state. He called the Jubaland officials in Kismayo a group who make “unilateral decisions by their own”.

Jubaland officials have remained adamant that the SFG was invited to take part in the conference that had been ongoing for months in Kismayo and that they had refused the invitation. The officials also added that the state formation conference was inclusive of clans and communities that live in the three regions – Gedo, Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba – that form Jubaland.

Sources close to the SFG parliament told GO that MPs are organizing a motion against Kenyan troops under the mandate of AMISOM. The sources told GO that the motion is against the presence of Kenyan troops in southern Somalia. Kenyan troops are under the mandate of the UN Security Council and only the council can relieve the five thousand strong troops.

More SFG officials arrived in Kismayo on Sunday which included Minister of Defense Abdihakim Haji Fiqi and Minister of Information who will meet with Jubaland officials. Jubaland officials criticized the news of the alleged motion against Kenya.

“It is unwise to criticize and try to remove Kenya who has played an important role against fighting Al Shabaab. And I believe the motives are mainly to undermine Jubaland state and its legitimacy,” said Seraar while talking to Radio Garowe.

Jubaland Vice President Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag who also spoke to Radio Garowe said that the SFG was sending out delegations to Kismayo without informing authorities in the port city.

“There is a wave of SFG officials arriving in Kismayo without informing authorities on the ground. This influx of officials has astonished us,” said Gen. Fartaag.

The Jubaland Vice President added that the SFG refused to take part in the conference or arrive in Kismayo before IGADÂ’s statement on Friday.

According to political analysts, President HassanÂ’s main political issue during his incumbency has been Jubaland and remains to be so during his 8 month in office.
Posted by:Steve White

00:00