We’re in control, says TFG spokesman

War on Al Shabaab: TFG spokesman Colonel Warfa Sheikh Adan spoke to The Standard On Saturday’s writer David Ochami in frontline town of Burhache.Colonel Warfa Sheikh Adan is a veteran soldier since the regime of the late Mohamed Siaad Barre and is now doing national duty for the new Somali army under the Transitional Federal Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government spokesman Colonel Warfa Sheikh Adan. [PHOTOS: GEORGE MULALA & FILE/STANDARD]Government (TFG). He is the spokesman for the TFG, covering Dolo on Somalia’s border with Ethiopia to Kismayu on the war-torn nation’s Indian Ocean coast.He spoke to The Standard on Saturday in Burhache, a frontier town in Somalia which TFG took from Al Shabaab in March this year. Q (The Standard on Saturday): What is the size of territory the TFG is holding in Gedo region now?A (Colonel Warfa Sheikh Adan): The TFG is holding about 110km land from Dolo to Garbaharey. In terms of percentage about 80 per cent of Gedo is under the TFG government.Which towns do you hold?A: All of them. There is only one town that is not in TFG hands — Bardheere. What about Garbaharey (the capital of Gedo)?A: It is also in government hands. The town is controlled by Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a, a moderate islamist militia allied to the TFG.Why is it difficult for the TFG to secure Bardheere?A: Nothing is stopping us. It began raining heavily and movement became difficult. Very soon we expect to be in Bardheere.What is your assessment of Al Shabaab’s strength now?A: We have seen that 75 per cent of their power is now down and the only strength they have is hit and run tactics and ambushes. They can’t confront our forces.What is the source of your strength?A: .Our forces are now being supported by governments like Kenya while Al Shabaab was being supported by Eritrea which is under embargo. The population in Gedo came to hate them over their collection of taxes in areas they controlled.Does Al Shabaab have any heavy weapons?A: What they have is RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenades and some Russian made anti-aircraft guns of SE 23, DESHE 21 and SE 20 calibre brought by Eritrea.Do you have any evidence that Eritrea delivers these weapons?A: We believe Russian weapons from Iran are brought to Al Shabaab through Eritrea. It is a known fact that Eritrea trains Al Shabaab.There have been claims that there are foreign fighters within Al Shabaab’s ranks. Any evidence?A: We have evidence of dead bodies but we have rarely caught any foreign fighters alive. Al Shabaab often tries to take away all their dead. These foreign fighters are normally special trained forces who normally engage in training. However in April one Tanzania was caught.Tell me about Al Shabaab’s use of Improvised Explosive Devices against TFG forces and other tactics?A: Al Shabaab has many tactics, the first being sleek propaganda. Secondly they target soft targets through hit and run methods. When they attack they swarm in huge numbers and descend on their targets.They normally fight in the morning and evening. They also like to ambush from mountainous areas and deep valleys. When their strength is low they remove their uniform and fight within the civilian population. Most importantly they recruit young people who are not well educated in religion by telling them this is a jihad.Recently in Yaqle, Al Shabaab fighters on a pick up truck drove a technical next to civilians at a well when KDF planes were circling in order to inflict civilian casualties but the planes did not attack.Where do you think the most decisive battles against Al Shabaab will be fought in this region?A: They will fight in two places. It will be in Burdhubo and Bardheere. In these places there are two main obstacles — two bridges on the Juba River. If they are overpowered they might cut off these bridges. They have also become highly mobile to avoid aircraft. &#12288;

We’re in control, says TFG spokesman

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