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| Africa Horn |
| Somalia demands Kenyan troops leave southern port |
| 2013-07-02 |
| [Pak Daily Times] Somalia's government has demanded that Kenyan troops stationed in the volatile port city of Kismayo as part of an African Union ...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful... force be replaced, accusing them of backing a militia force opposing Mogadishu. Calling for a "more neutral African Union force", Somalia's information ministry accused the troops of supporting militia soldiers "in violation of their mandate", as well as attacking civilians and arresting a top government army commander. Several rival factions are battling for control of Kismayo, a strategic and economic hub in the southern Jubaland region: these include former krazed killer chief Ahmed Madobe, who in May appointed himself "president" of Jubaland, and Bare Hirale, a former Somali defence minister who also leads a powerful militia. |
| Posted by:Fred |