Kenyan troops secure militia stronghold
- 13 years ago
Kenyan troops on patrol in southern Somalia.
Nairobi sent hundreds of military personnel into the area in October to fight insurgents that it blames for a series of kidnappings on its soil and cross border skirmishes.
On Tuesday the Kenyans took foreign media on a tour of Ras Kamoboni, a former stronghold of Somalia's al Shabaab militants.
The group's fallen back against the superior firepower of the Kenyan army, but have started using landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices in retaliation.
Still, the Kenyan military says its offensive is succeeding and has caused rifts within the rebel forces.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMALIA TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT SOLDIER IN CHARGE OF INTELLIGENCE, CAPTAIN ABDIKADIR MOHAMED:
"The way they used to be and the way they are now is that there is a big difference. Now I can say they are very demoralised and they are very weak and they are divided into two because some of them are using another name "Emirate Islamiya" while others are still al Shabab. When they are divided that way now I can say they are very weak and demoralised."
Neighbouring Ethiopia is also rumoured to have sent troops into central parts of Somalia.
The Horn of Africa country has been plagued by violence since a civil war in 1991 allowed first warlords, then Islamist militants, to step into the political vacuum.
Simon Hanna, Reuters
Nairobi sent hundreds of military personnel into the area in October to fight insurgents that it blames for a series of kidnappings on its soil and cross border skirmishes.
On Tuesday the Kenyans took foreign media on a tour of Ras Kamoboni, a former stronghold of Somalia's al Shabaab militants.
The group's fallen back against the superior firepower of the Kenyan army, but have started using landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices in retaliation.
Still, the Kenyan military says its offensive is succeeding and has caused rifts within the rebel forces.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOMALIA TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT SOLDIER IN CHARGE OF INTELLIGENCE, CAPTAIN ABDIKADIR MOHAMED:
"The way they used to be and the way they are now is that there is a big difference. Now I can say they are very demoralised and they are very weak and they are divided into two because some of them are using another name "Emirate Islamiya" while others are still al Shabab. When they are divided that way now I can say they are very weak and demoralised."
Neighbouring Ethiopia is also rumoured to have sent troops into central parts of Somalia.
The Horn of Africa country has been plagued by violence since a civil war in 1991 allowed first warlords, then Islamist militants, to step into the political vacuum.
Simon Hanna, Reuters