Somalia war machine gets big boost
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000052823&cid=4
*Updated 2 hr(s) 22 min(s) ago
*
By Standard Reporter
Details of the deal struck to place Kenyan soldiers fighting in Somalia
under the African Union Mission in Somalia can now be revealed.
Amisom’s mandate has been changed to allow attacks outside Mogadishu within
four sectors, including areas now under Kenyan control.
Ethiopian troops in Somalia are, however, not part of the new force. Fresh
troops are expected from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Kenya, with other
nations providing smaller contingents.
International funding for the force will more than double to about $550
million (about Sh45 billion) a year.
Under the new arrangement Kenya will be allowed to claim compensation from
the United Nations for equipment lost or destroyed while fighting Al
Shabaab. The military operation has been draining about Sh200 million a
month, with lost equipment doubling the cost of ‘Operation Linda Nchi’
since it began four months ago.
Explicit mandate
One Chinese-made Harbin Z-9 utility helicopter was destroyed last year when
it crashed due to mechanical failure. A Kenya Navy patrol boat was also
damaged in action last year.
Kenya spent a record Sh27 billion on military equipment in 2008. Vehicles
and weapons in use in Somalia will now be eligible for compensation as
"contingent owned equipment".
One of the sticking points on the creation of an enlarged Amisom force has
been the command and control structure. President Mwai Kibaki, Uganda’s
Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopia’s Meles Zenawi are said to have been "in
constant contact" on the matter.
The chiefs of defence staff from the region tasked to deal with the issue
agreed on a plan involving four sectors, with fresh Ugandan and Burundian
troops – 1,700 from Uganda, 1,000 from Burundi – deployed to areas
controlled by Kenya and Ethiopia. Details of how these sectors will relate
to Amisom force commander, Maj-Gen Fred Mugisha, have not been released.
Kenyan officials estimate it will take up to six months for the force to be
fully integrated.
AU planners want Amisom to control the ports of Kismayu, Haradhere, Marka
and Barawe. They also propose an air-exclusion zone to cut off arms
supplies to Al Shabaab. Military planning to achieve these goals is under
way.
----[Mailing List for Eritrea Related News ]----
Received on Sat Feb 25 2012 - 00:05:47 EST
