The attack on Kenya Defense soldiers still makes headlines in Kenyan media. The attack occurred mid-January 2016 in the El Adde Camp based in Gedo town of Somalia. While the exact number of deceased soldiers is still unknown, it is believed that scores of soldiers were killed by the Al Shabab. The attack was strongly condemned by Kenyan leaders as well as international community. In his state briefing Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said: ‘Today once again we confirm that still stand with the international Community to liberate Somalia from terrorist organizations. We all know that peace and security has its price. Our task is to minimize the risk of our people.’ The US condemned the attack adding that it will continue supporting Kenya’s’ operation inside Somalia. Briefing reporters at the State Department on Friday 15^th January 2016, State Department Spokesperson John Kirby said the US remains fully committed to assisting Amisom as well as the Governments of Kenya and Somalia in combating terrorism and to enhance security within Kenya as well as Somalia.

Comment:

Kenya’s government has run into a great shock and thus unable to release the number of fallen soldiers. It is in this context, the Interior Cabinet Secretary gave a stern warning against sending and posting alarming graphic pictures of slain soldiers. This is an attempt to bridge the humiliation. After capturing Kismayo on 28^th September 2012, KDF was highly praised by both top military brass and the political leaders. This recent attack on KDF has affected the public opinion on the presence of KDF in Somalia. After a series of deadly attacks such as Westgate, Mpeketoni and Garissa the public opinion is to get the KDF out of Somalia of which the Government is yet to accept.

On October 2011, KDF entered Somalia which before its deployment, Ethiopia had already stepped in Somalia while Ugandan and Burundian forces are still stationed there. The Operation was decided by the Kenyan authorities and those of Transitional Government of Somalia under the custodian of the Western powers – US and Europe, claiming to fight Al Shabab. The Government of Kenya was involved in giving military training to Somali soldiers as well recruiting the Kenyan youth of Somali origin in Manyani.

Kenya is at crossroads despite of KDF success in implementing the colonial scheme of creating a semi autonomous region – a puppet state of Juba land which is led by Ahmed Madobe.  It is clear that Kenya is now feeling the pain of a proxy war. Many times involving into such battles bring more harm and exit becomes a major challenge. The US Secretary of State John Kerry on his visit to Kenya last year, pointed out that Kenya cannot withdraw its army because it plays a critical in ensuring the stability in Somalia. He said, ‘We need the exit strategy, but it needs to be a success and we need a clearer sense of how the success will come.’ This clearly indicates the Kenya will not withdraw its troops till situation in Somalia goes to what US demands.

The West has turned Somalia into a battlefield engulfed with tribal clashes only to prevent the Islamic sentiments from amongst its people. More than two decades, Somalia has widely witnessed military invasion of several countries including the major western countries. On 14^th September 2009, America through the Pentagon Joint Special Operation Command together with the CIA launched an attack called Helicopter Raid which killed Ali Saleh Nabhani a suspected Al Qaeda member of Kenyan origin. The UK which recently announced its mission to deploy its forces into Africa under the pretext of granting military trainings to African soldiers was involved militarily in Somalia by attacking beach camps of Somalia in 2010.

Somalia is a Muslim land which most of its modern cities such as Mogadishu were under the Khilafah of Abdul Malik bin Marwan. In 1875, Muslims captured Kismayo and was put under the Khilafah Uthumaniyya (Ottoman Caliphate) ruled by Sultan Abdul Aziz bin Mahmoud II and joined into wilaya of Egytpt under governer Al Khadewi Ismail Pasha. This land has been blessed with a vast of resources such as oil, uranium, natural gas and a long stretch of the coastline. Somalia has been turned into green pasture for Western powers that scramble for their interests. It is only the Khilafah upon the method of the Prophethood that will bring back Somali its dignity and protect it from invasion of foreign armies.

Shabani Mwalimu

Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa