Somali clans vow to defend Kenya against Al-Shabaab

By Adow Jubat

Somali clans living along the porous Kenya-Somalia border have vowed to defend the Kenya Government against any external threats posed by the Somali Islamist militia group, Al-Shabaab.

Elders from the Absame clan, who addressed a press conference after a meeting in Garissa town, noted that the Somali people are indebted to defend the neighboring country, which hosts more than 300,000 Somali refugees in three camps in North Eastern Province.

The meeting to deliberate on the threats to the country from Al-Shabaab follows another one held at the Garissa Government Guest House in November last year, following the capturing of Dobley town, which is very close to Kenya’s Libio border town, by the dread Islamist group.

The chairman of the Absame clan Sheikh Khalif Gure said the Al-Shabaab threats to attack Kenya were unwarranted, saying the country was the only one in Africa that provided refuge to Somali nationals fleeing their war-torn country.

friendly neighbour

Sheikh Gure said: "As the clans sharing border with Kenya, we will not allow any criminal by any name, to use our territory to sneak into our friendly neighbour to commit acts of terrorism."

The leader praised the Government for its tireless efforts to ensure peace returns to Somalia.

Flanked by Sheikh Abdikhadir Ahmed, who is the chairman of the committee to protect Wamo region neighboring North-Eastern region of Kenya, Gure said they fully support the Transitional Federal Government.

The leader said the lower Juba area of Somali bordering Kenya was considering seceding from the larger Somalia and declaring an autonomous federal state like Puntland.