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From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Wed Nov 17 2010 - 02:38:02 EST
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Warn of Fresh Terror Attacks Abroad
Barbara Among
6 November 2010
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Kampala — SOMALI militants Al-Shabaab have issued a fresh warning to attack
Kampala and Bujumbura if Uganda and Burundi do not immediately withdraw
their troops from the capital Mogadishu.
A senior commander, Fuad Shongole, told a gathering in Mogadishu on Thursday
that the fresh attacks were intended to "avenge" the recent actions of the
Ugandan and Burundian troops in Mogadishu.
The warning is the second since the July 11 twin bombings in Kampala, which
killed 79 people as they watched the World Cup final.
A total of 34 suspects have been charged with terrorism, murder and
attempted murder in connection with the attacks. Among them are Ugandans,
Kenyans, Somalis and one Pakistani.
Asked to react to the fresh warning, Police spokesperson Vincent Ssekate
said all District Police Commanders had been ordered to be on the alert. He
said businesspeople running public places should undertake preventive
measures.
"Ugandans should avoid going to places which are not well protected and
report suspicious elements," he cautioned.
The army, on the other hand, downplayed Al-Shabaab's fresh threats. Army
spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye said the threats were not new and
would not deter Uganda from meeting its obligations in Somalia, but called
for public vigilance.
"Our people should remain vigilant to avoid a repeat of the July 11
bombings," the UPDF spokesman added.
The Ugandan and Burundian soldiers are serving under the African Union
mission (AMISOM) and are charged with the responsibility of protecting the
Somali transitional federal government.
Since 2006, Al-Shabaab has subjected Somalia to a terror campaign of suicide
bombings, roadside explosions and assassinations of government officials.
The AMISOM troops, as the peacekeepers are known, have in recent weeks
fought fierce battles with the militants and regained control of 10 out of
16 districts of Mogadishu.
Uganda and Burundi have 7,200 peacekeepers in Mogadishu, 800 less than the
8,000 promised by the African Union member states.
However, Uganda has promised to deploy 1,000 more soldiers. Nigeria, Ghana
and Tanzania promised troops in 2006, but are yet to deploy them.
The militants claimed responsibility for the July 11 attacks. The bombings
were Al-Shabaab's first outside of Somalia and followed many warnings from
the Islamists' commanders.
In the first warning on September 7, Fuad Mohammed Khalaf accused President
Yoweri Museveni of becoming an obstacle to stability in Somalia and warned
him not to send more troops there.
Despite the latest warning, security across Kampala city, including busy
shopping centres, was lax by yesterday. The Police presence in the city
appeared minimal compared to the days immediately following the July
attacks.
At the time, the Police banned commuter taxis from parking in areas around
government ministries, foreign embassies, the Electoral Commission, petrol
stations and other areas considered vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
However, this is no longer the case. For instance, at the bus stop opposite
the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was business as usual as commuter taxis
jammed the area. Shell fuel stations on Jinja and Kampala roads, as well as
in Nakawa, were equally jammed with traffic.
Nakasero Market, the nearby Tourist Hotel and Capital Shoppers in Nakasero,
Kampala taxi and bus parks did not seem adequately secured. Only a few
Traffic Police officers patrolled the streets.
The Police were also absent in the upmarket areas of Kampala such as those
around Hotel Equatoria, Speke Hotel, Grand Imperial and Communications House
and Barclays Bank.
Even where private guards were on duty, such as at Game Shopping Mall,
Nakumatt and Garden City, shoppers were not subjected to thorough checks.
BBQ Lounge and Effendys at Centenary Park on Jinja Road had security checks
last night.
Copyright © 2010 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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