Joint effort necessary to defeat Al Shabaab once and for all

The Kenya Defence Forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia must now move swiftly to destroy the remaining Al Shaabab terror cells in Somalia.

“Regrettably, some of our uniformed patriots paid the ultimate price. It is heart-breaking but their deaths shall not be in vain”. These were the heart-wrenching yet inspiring words of our Commander-in-Chief as he confirmed the inevitable worst following reports of a daring dawn attack by heavily armed Shaabab militia on a KDF camp in El Adde, Somalia.

As is custom to all militia groups on their deathbeds, the cowardly terror group avoided the annihilation of an open field daytime confrontation, ambushing our soldiers at dawn with massive casualties reported on both sides.

For such a somber and shocking morning, nothing could however be more uplifting than to learn that KDF moved with speed to launch a counter-offensive, deploying helicopter gunships and fighter jets in a pursuit and rescue mission for soldiers who survived the attack.

This offensive must be conducted with the uttermost ruthlessness considering that the militiamen managed to seize a fleet of 27 Armoured Personnel Carriers and heavy artillery after they overran the camp. Such firepower could tempt them into launching a direct attack on Kenyan soil or even on other Amisom bases in future.

Militants flowing into the El Adde region are believed to cross from Garbeharrey across River Juba and the northern townships that have never been pacified by the multinational forces. Thus a coordinated effort between the Amisom forces is urgently needed to ensure the remnants of the terror group are destroyed.

This is the only permanent and viable solution to contain the targeted attacks on AU bases, considering that Burundian and Ugandan forces have also previously suffered casualties from such attacks.

The bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers under Amisom to restore the democratic space in Somalia, to halt the wild spree of slaughter and ensure a peaceful coexistence between the war-torn state and its neighbours must not be in vain.

The UN Security Council stressed its admonition of the attack and emphasised on the need to bring to justice those perpetrating, organising, financing or sponsoring terrorism in any way. The council’s promise of its support and determination in restoring peace in the region bodes well for the forces, since it is an operation that will require massive support from the international community in terms of logistics, intelligence and finances.

Terrorism is an avenue used by disillusioned extremists and radicals who are willing to die for inhumane ideals to attack humanity.

In this regard, all states in accordance with their obligations under international law must cooperate actively in the fight against it. It threatens to throw the world into anarchy and represents ideals that do not in any way provide a path for the development of mankind and humanity as a whole.

{Alwin Abok, Maseno University}

As a country, we have been and shall always be so good to our neighbours. Somalia is one such neighbour. Since 1990s Siad Barre’s assassination, many Somalis have known Kenya as their most accommodating neighbour who always values them.

Terrorism is the enemy’s strategy to interfere with this unity. But just as their strategy has failed before, it will always fail.