https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Cutting|Defence|Logistics|Operations
Cutting|Defence|Logistics|Operations
cutting|defence|logistics|operations

Mogadishu jittery about withdrawal of AU troops

20th March 2019

By: African News Agency

  

Font size: - +

Mogadishu is growing jittery about the planned withdrawal of African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops from Somalia, according to a report on Wednesday.

On February 16, AMISOM commanders met in the Somali capital to agree on a plan to execute the mission’s new Concept of Operations (Conops), a document that provides a framework for implementing the African Union (AU) troops’ gradual transition and final exit from Somalia, the East African reported.

The drawdown is part of a United Nations (UN) cut back on peacekeeping forces due to lack of funds because of member states either being in arrears or cutting back their annual contributions.

The move has angered some African countries who’ve threatened to pull all their troops out of the peacekeeping missions, arguing that more peacekeepers are needed to defeat militant group Al Shabaab.

Despite the militants being driven out of the Somali capital several years ago, they’ve managed to regroup in rural areas where they continue to launch attacks both there and in Mogadishu.

Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) has already started withdrawing their men. On Tuesday the Busar military base, in the northern sector Jubaland, was evacuated. Jubaland was liberated from militant group Al Shabaab 100 days after the KDF entered Somalia.

However, Busar which is in Gedo region, is also where KDF recorded their greatest loss in history during the 2016 El Adde attack, in which about 200 soldiers died. Tuesday’s evacuation followed the pullout of Kenyan troops from other bases including Bardera, El Adde, Taraka and Fafadun.

Somali leaders have questioned the KDF withdrawal saying that the evacuation will further expose the Horn of Africa country to Al Shabaab threats.

The Kenyan military meanwhile has refused to be drawn on the reasons for the evacuation of the military bases saying the reasons were classified.

But according to military and diplomatic circles one of the reasons is the shortage of UN funds for peacekeepers has made logistics, including moving troops and supplies over a vast area, near impossible.

The second reason the experts advanced was political, including the recent diplomatic spat between Kenya and Somalia over their maritime border and the oil blocks in the disputed area.

Edited by African News Agency

Comments

Showroom

Actom image
Actom

Your one-stop global energy-solution partner

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer
Magazine round up | 15 March 2024
Magazine round up | 15 March 2024
15th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.062 0.109s - 139pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now