IGAD seeks No fly zones in Somalia

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Assembly (IGAD) wants the United Nations to impose a No fly zone on Somalia in a bid to cut off arms supplies to the Al Shabaab terrorist group.

President Kibaki led the East African leaders in asking UN to enforce No fly zones on key towns in Somalia controlled by the Al Shabaab in order to cut off the supply of weapons to the terror network during an IGAD meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday.

“The assembly reiterates its call for the UNSC to provide support to AMISOM including mission enablers and to adopt a resolution that enforces a blockade of Kismayu, Barava, Merka and Elmaan and imposes air exclusion zone such as on Balidogle and Cisaley to cut the supply lines to the extremist groups,” read one of the Assembly’s key resolutions.

The meeting also directed its anger on Eritrea, which they accused of supplying arms to the Al Shabaab through Kismayu.

The leaders also warned of possible terrorist attacks on South Sudan before or after its independence day celebrations set for Saturday by extremist groups allied to Eritrea.

“The Presidents were really concerned about the role Eritrea continues to play in aiding these violent groups. They were told that the Kampala bombers were trained in Eritrea, which also tried to use the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) to bomb an AU (African Union) meeting in Addis Ababa in January,” said a member of the Kenyan delegation, which accompanied President Kibaki who requested not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the President.

The call to impose a No Fly Zone on Somalia underlines the seriousness Kenya and her neighbours are taking the threat posed by Al Shabaab and other militant groups on regional peace and stability.

The Al Shabaab has in the past warned Kenya, Uganda and Burundi of violent attacks over their continued support of the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.