After success in Somalia, KDF now needs exit strategy

• Daily Mail amplified the rumour that white soldiers had been spotted in the Kenyan troops and said the fact that Al-Shabaab’s Andalus Radio Station had not been closed down showed that Kenyan claims were off the mark.
• One could be forgiven for seeing a desire to deny that African forces were on the brink of doing what US troops failed to do in their spectacular debacle in the nineties.
• And when the truth could not be denied, attempts were manufactured to attribute success to some mysterious white men. Yet allowing this detraction to subdue the achievement so far on the battlefield can blind us of the work still to be done.

The invasion and eventual conquest of Kismayu in Somalia by Kenya Defence Forces backed by Somali soldiers over the past week represents a major achievement given inadequate appreciation.

By end of week, congratulatory messages were flowing fast and easy. Hillary Clinton praised the capture and called for more international support to establish effective government.

The British international development secretary and the minister for Africa flew into Mogadishu and both praised what had been achieved. US assistant secretary of state for Africa, John Carson, talked to the press about Kenya’s good intentions.

Yet the nature of Western media reporting as the events unfolded was not quite as generous and appreciative of what we had done. Many lessons can be drawn from this hectic week of a genuine African solution where others have failed dismally.

The reluctance to appreciate, the careful strategy and how the experience of others should inform the development of an exit plan are the least we can reflect upon.

When KDF reported their entry into Kismayu and the rapid progress they were making in clearing Al-Shabaab, the news was reported in very conflicting ways.

Kenyan media detailed the careful strategy used. How capturing towns such as Janacabdalla and Harbolle on the approaches to the city deluded the terror group to prepare for a land assault while an amphibious landing from the sea was under way.

How synergies between land, sea and air forces was critical to the invasion. How they selected strategic targets like the armoury at the airport and the Al-Shabaab headquarters.

How painstaking dialogue with key local warlords prepared the ground for limiting prospects of anarchy after driving Al-Shabaab out.

In the meantime, much Western media was concentrating on strange angles to the story. The Sunday Times briefly reported the announcement by KDF then dedicated most footage on reporting denials by Al-Shabaab.

Similarly, the BBC Africa correspondent dwelt at length on the flight of the terrorists as a strategic retreat to entrap the Amisom troops. He extensively quoted spurious claims by commander Mohamed Abu-Fatma that Kismayu was going to be a battlefield.

Daily Mail amplified the rumour that white soldiers had been spotted in the Kenyan troops and said the fact that Al-Shabaab’s Andalus Radio Station had not been closed down showed that Kenyan claims were off the mark.

One could be forgiven for seeing a desire to deny that African forces were on the brink of doing what US troops failed to do in their spectacular debacle in the nineties.

And when the truth could not be denied, attempts were manufactured to attribute success to some mysterious white men. Yet allowing this detraction to subdue the achievement so far on the battlefield can blind us of the work still to be done.

The success of KDF together with their partners in the Somali army and Amisom shows clearly the benefit of careful planning, drawing from the lessons of earlier incursions by others.

They were clear about how not to do it. They demonstrated how, combined, a sense of shared goals with local soldiers and key clan leaders can play a crucial role in augmenting military might.

But now comes the hard part. Capturing Kismayu was the most important military goal of KDF when they moved into Somalia.

But pacifying the country and growing effective government is the ultimate goal of Kenya and friends of Somalia. To this end, our soldiers can only make a partial contribution.