Kenyan troops cut off Kismayu from militants

Kenyan troops have blockaded the port of Kismayu, effectively cutting off Al-Shabaab’s main source of revenue.

The Kenya Air Force and Kenya Navy have been patrolling the skies above Kismayu and the sea.

As a result, operations at the busy port, which is served by a long jetty had significantly reduced over the last four weeks.

Airforce pilots told the Nation on Wednesday after conducting aerial surveillance that five ships that had been docked at the port had departed leaving behind a few sailing boats and skiffs.

Al-Shaabab has mainly relied on millions of dollars they collect from the ships that dock at the port.

The ships bring in sugar and electronics which are mainly smuggled into Kenya. They take out charcoal destined for the Middle East.

The militants also collect additional revenue from fishermen in Ras Kamboni and Bur Gabo.

On Wednesday, Operation Linda Nchi also scored a major victory on the diplomatic front after the African Union backed the war against the militants and expressed confidence that it would succeed.

Speaking in Nairobi, the AU special envoy to Somalia, Mr Jerry Rawlings, praised the discipline of Kenyan troops saying it had been tested during various UN missions they had undertaken around the world.

“We are ready to support Kenya in its efforts and we have no doubt it will succeed. It had been provoked enough and its decision to take action was justified,” he said at the Department of Defence headquarters where he met Defence minister Yusuf Haji.

Military spokesman Maj Emmanuel Chirchir alluded to the advances being made by the Kenyan troops when he said on his twitter account that the fall of Kismayu was imminent.

“Kismayu fall will surprise many. Let’s focus on the stabilisation of the controlled areas. Focus-Humanitarian assistance,” he tweeted.

The capture of Kismayu is considered the ultimate goal of the operation to flush the Al- Shaabab out of southern Somalia, from where it has been launching incursions into Kenyan territory.

Progress towards Kismayu has been hampered by rains inland in the Southern Sector, with Al-Shaabab now removed from Ras Kamboni, Bur Gabo and Kolbio towns.

In Nairobi, Mr Rawlings appealed to the Kenyan forces and Amisom troops to exercise professionalism so as to reduce civilian casualties as they intensify the operation to defeat the rebels.

The former Ghanaian president also called on Somali leaders residing in Kenya to tone down rhetoric which could inflame passions.

“I urge the politicians to instead offer guidance to their people in Somalia so that the solution can be found faster,” he said.

He defended Prime Minister Raila Odinga against criticism following his announcement last week that Kenya had secured Israel’s support in the operation, saying the comments had been taken out of context.

“We in the AU understood the Kenyan PM to have been simply calling for support to combat terrorism in the world and especially on Israel’s technical help on the home ground,” he said.