Army says Al Shabaab rebrands to win sympathy

By Steve Mkawale

The Al Shabaab is rebranding to win sympathy from the Somali people, the Kenya Defence Forces said on Saturday.

KDF spokesman Cyrus Oguna said they have intelligence that the Al Shabaab has changed its name to ‘Somalia Islamic Emirate’ to win the support of the locals and escape the wrath of the Kenyans and Transitional Federal Government of Somalia soldiers.

"The operation has completely disrupted the Al Shabaab. They are disorganised and confused, but they are trying to change their name to Somalia Islamic Emirate to win appeal of people sympathetic to their cause. We are prepared and we will hit them in whatever form they are in," said Col Oguna at a weekly media briefing of the Operation Linda Nchi held at Ministry of Information and Communication offices at Tele-Posta Plaza in Nairobi.

Committed to mission

Oguna said the joint operation has successfully destabilised the militia group and locals have been helpful in volunteering information on the whereabouts of the Al Shabaab fighters.

On the request by the Africa Union for the Kenyan troops to join the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), Oguna said the move would not deter KDF and TFG soldiers from pursuing the mission that forced Kenya troops to enter Somalia in search of the Al Shabaab, a militant Islamist group operating in Somalia.

"KDF and TFG alliance is committed to the mission that took us to Somalia, which is to pacify the country. If the integration of KDF operation within Amisom will bring peace then so be it," Oguna said.

He dismissed claims the move would weaken Kenya’s operation in Somalia, saying it would add on the success that KDF has already achieved.

"Our rights of self defence will not be affected in anyway. In the event we feel threatened we will go on with our combat operation."