Mogadishu on Monday morning witnessed heavy gun battles and shelling as it was between Somali army backed by African Union peacekeepers and Al shabaab fighters
Reports said that few Mogadishu people have no access to flee and displace from their homes because of the newly started battles in the seaside Mogadishu city.
Witnesses told Shabelle that at least two people were killed ad two others injured after a haphazard mortar landed at the vegetable section of Bakaara market which is heavily populated.
Press TV: Dozens killed in fierce Somalia fighting
At least 24 people have been killed and 15 injured in violent clashes between Somali government troops and al-Shabab fighters south of the capital Mogadishu, witnesses say.
The victims, mostly civilians, were caught in the crossfire in the ongoing conflict between the warring sides, a Press TV correspondent reported.
Mortar shells reportedly fired from government forces positions missed their targets and landed at houses in Bula Hawo, a strategic town across neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia in Southern Somalia.
Witnesses say scores of civilians have been caught in the fierce fighting in Somalia over the past three days.
Al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohammud Raghe has blamed the government forces and Ethiopians troops for launching the attacks on the fighters' bases and shelling civilian areas.
Al-Shabab has also warned Kenya of retaliation over the country's purported participation in the strikes on the group.
"Kenya has allowed our arch rivals, the Ethiopian troops, to attack us from the town of Mandera. They gave them positions to massacre our people in the border town of Bula Hawo. We will not stand by and watch as the atrocities continue, we will retaliate," Raghe said.
The spokesperson also called on Somalis living around Kenyan territories to prevent their lands from becoming a launch-pad for attacks by the 'enemy.'
Reuters: Kenya, Ethiopia may attack al Shabaab - sources
Kenyan and Ethiopian troops could attack Somali rebel group al Shabaab inside the Horn of Africa nation following the rebel's latest threat to strike at Kenya, security sources said on Monday.
The al Shabaab group, which claims ties to al Qaeda and has been waging a four-year insurgency against Somalia's government, said on Sunday it would strike at neighbouring Kenya for training Somali government forces and allowing Ethiopian troops to operate from its towns.
Tens of thousands of Kenyans have been fleeing a border town after shells fired during fighting on the Somali side of the frontier landed near a hospital and a police station on the Kenyan side. An official with a group representing aid organisations said one Kenyan had died and 20 had been wounded.
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Fleeing residents said Mandera resembled a military camp.
"We expect a major offensive any moment from tonight," said a Kenya military officer at the frontier with Somalia.
"The plan to enter Somalia and confront al Shaabab is the only way to protect our territory. Kenya has no option it must fight this group right inside Somalia," the source added.
Security sources said a convoy of Somali soldiers trained in Kenya backed by Kenyan troops had arrived at the border on Sunday night where they were camping, ready for the incursion.
However, Kenya's government spokesman said the country's troops would not launch strikes inside Somalia.
"There is no such plan (to attack inside Somalia). We have police and security forces there to ensure the fighting does not spill over into Kenya," Alfred Mutua told Reuters in Nairobi.
The Standard:
Speaking to The Standard on Sunday by phone the Mandera town council chairman Mohamed Adan Khalif said the town with a population of more than 70,000 people is now a ghost town with few security personnel patrolling the streets.
The chairman said more than 200 residential houses and a mosque were burnt by retaliatory explosive hurled into the town from Somali border town of Bulla-Hawa.
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Khalif claimed the members of pro-Transitional Federal Government of Sheikh Shariff backed by Alhusunna Wal Jamaa were firing from Mandera town into Bulla-Hawa controlled by the Islamist group resulting in a retaliatory shelling to Kenya border town.
He rubbished the Government assertion the civilians had been killed by stray bullets adding that Al-Shabaab were returning back shots fired from Kenyan territory.
Shabelle Media: Al shabaab threatens to launch attacks against Kenya
Al shabaab movement on Sunday threatened it will launch attacks [unless] Kenya stops interfering Somalia regions in the south.
The spokesman of Al shabaab fighters, Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage better known as Sheikh Ali Dhere told reporters in Mogadishu that what ever happens inside Kenya, Kenyan authorities will be responsible.
Rage spelled out Kenya has given training for Somali soldiers to attack and disturb the regions under their control.
'Kenya has constantly disturbed us, and now it should face the consequences of allowing Ethiopian troops to attack us from Mandera town,' al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage told a news conference.
He also accused Kenya of accommodating Ethiopian military in their territories.
Daily Nation:
About 600 Somali soldiers training in Kenya have been moved to a camp in Elwak in Mandera awaiting deployment into Somalia as war escalates between government forces and insurgents.
They were relocated to the camp in two groups of 300 in Kenya military trucks over the past one week ahead of possible deployment to reinforce the TFG soldiers in Bullahawa town in Somalia, the Nation has learnt.
And in Mandera, the Kenyan military upgraded its alertness on the border to “amber” as fighting between al-Shabaab and the TFG forces, who are assisted by the African Union, continued on the fifth day.
The government has sent more personnel to the Kenya-Somalia border to stop al-Shabaab militia from crossing into the country.
Here's a link to two intel reports on Kenyan-Ethiopian-US military collaboration on the border region in 2006's invasion.
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Mareeg Online: Conflict arises between Somali top officials
Separate press conferences were held in one day during last week in Mogadishu by Somali president, Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed and Somalis parliament speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adam which was about the feedback of president Sharif’s demand to the mps.-- -- --
Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adam, parliament speaker told the press mid last week that they had received a letter from Somali president ordering mps to review their decision and return their verdict, but Sharif Hassan, the speaker told that he sent a reply letter back to president saying the decision of term extension was constitutional and would not accept president’s demand.
At the same day, in another conference held by president, Sharif, reporters asked him whether he received a letter from Somali parliament speaker, Sharif Hassan or not and then the president said that he did not send a letter to Sharif Hassan, but mps and expect an answer from them, parliamentarians.
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Sheikh Sharif , Somali president told that parliament speaker could not refuse his letter and he must know his right to chair parliament sessions, but he must not interfere parliament affairs..
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This show that the conflict between Somali top officials has arisen and alarming stage a time T.F.G system is close to end.
There are reports that Somali parliament speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheikh likes to stand for presidential candidate next and plans to start that campaign during the course.
IRIN: Thousands displaced in offensive against militants
One resident of Bulo Hawo, normally home to some 60,000 people, and also close to the Ethiopian border, said much of the now nearly deserted town had been destroyed “after days of shelling”. The offensive began on 23 February and fighting subsided on 28 February.
"Many businesses and private homes are in ruins. We are running out of food. There are no shops or other businesses open," he added, asking not to be identified.
Thousands of Bulo Hawo residents fled across the Kenyan border when fighting broke out but it has now been closed.
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On 28 February, the district commissioner for Mandera East, Benson Leparmorijo, told IRIN Mandera was calm but that on 27 February, "missiles" launched from Ethiopia towards Bulo Hawo could be heard in the town.
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An aid worker in Mandera, who requested anonymity, said a number of relief agencies suspended operations and moved out of town when the offensive began.
Several business premises, schools, public offices and banks in Mandera were closed, according to Mohamud Dualle, an official of the NGO, Mandera Rural Aid for Community Assistance and Development.
"About half of Mandera town's population has been displaced... it's a disaster," Dualle told IRIN.
Mareeg Online: Islamist leaders of Al-shabab meet former some of Somali national army
Islamist leaders of Al-shabab had for first met with some of individuals of the former Somali national forces in Garbaharey district of Gedo region, southwest Somalia and urged them to take part the Jihad against T.F.G and Amisom, reports said.
Sheikh Muktar Robow Abu-Mansor, together with Sheikh Fu’ad Mohamed Shongole, senior Islamist leaders have met some individuals of former Somali national army today on Tuesday in Garbaharey and called them to attend what Sheikh Muktar named Jihad against infidels that meant Amisom and the T.F.G.
These officials are said to be retired ones who attended the 1977-war with Ethiopians, but are not armed ones functioning now.
Robow said, these officials are ready to go war with us and they are the first of their type saying ‘Tak-biir’ Allah is great.
Sheikh Fu’ad Shongole and Moktar Robow are traveling in some parts of Somali regions in particular those under control by Shabab militias and are urging people to take part the on going wars that Shabab is involved in now.
These two leaders preach for crowds of people where ever they visit from small village to large cities in south and central Somalia, reports said.
In a gathering they held in small village in Garbaharey district, they had told that T.F.G forces backed by the African union peacekeeping forces failed in the latest planned attacks against Shabab.
Bloomberg: Somali Government Plans to Intensify Fight Against Insurgents
“The offensive has not yet occurred as intended,” Sheikh Sharif told reporters yesterday at the presidential palace in the city. “There are ongoing concrete plans to clear out al- Shabaab from Mogadishu.”
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Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansor, a leader of al-Shabaab, said today the government offensive has failed because of division within government ranks, pointing to a dispute between Sheikh Sharif and the speaker of parliament over the extension of parliament’s mandate.
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“The fighting from the apostate government and mercenary African troops has failed because both the top officers of the apostate government are in dispute,” Mansor said in remarks broadcast today on Mogadishu-based Radio Furgan. Mansor spoke to villagers in Tulo Barwaaqo, in the Gedo region near the border with Kenya and Ethiopia.
Mansor also said al-Shabaab fighters have been defending themselves in the region against attacks by Kenyan and Ethiopian forces.
Xinhua: More AU soldiers airlifted to Kenya for medical treatment amid fighting in Somalia
Some 16 foreign soldiers were airlifted to Mombasa for medical treatment on Monday night as the heavy fighting between Somali militant group Al-Shabaab and the Somali transitional government forces intensify.
Security was tightened after plane carrying the soldiers landed at the Mombasa airport and later taken by ambulances to two hospitals in the town.
This brings the number of admitted foreign soldiers to 30, after another group of troops was airlifted to the town over a week ago.
Hospital sources confirmed on Tuesday that the soldiers were received at about 8 p.m. local time (1700GMT) and were still undergoing medical treatment following the multiple injuries they sustained after shootouts in the war torn area in Somalia.
Mareeg Online: Somali defense minister: We shall buy guns from surrendering Shabab militias
Deputy Premier and minister of defense affairs of Somali Transitional Federal Government, A/hakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi has called for Shabab fighters that the government would buy guns from them if they surrender to the national army and will secure them, state media reported.
A/hakim Mohamud Haji, Somalis defense minister told Radio Mogadishu, the state media last night that they would buy guns from fighters of Islamist group of Al-shabab if they give up fighting and join them adding they would secure and teach them something.
“There is a plan that government tabled for those militias dropping their previous attitude and coming to us, we will develop and create jobs for them, the defense minister said.
SMC: Youths who have defected from Al-Shabab lament
Some juveniles who have recently defected from the rival Islamist faction of Al-Shabab are strongly lamenting of government pledged promises.-- -- --
Among these youths is Hussein Farah Adan who Somaliweyn website has had an interview with him.
“We have been so long members of the antigovernment Islamist faction of Al-Shabab, and we have now defected from that faction, and one of the major factors which has encouraged us to defect are official promises delivered by the President Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Ahmed and the Prime Minster Mr. Mohamed Abdullah Farmajo, the promises were the officials said that if any of the Al-Shabab fighters defects and join
the government he will be offered, better life and care, but all those promises now seem to failed, because we have not been assisted and we can not rejoin Al-Shabab, because once you make defect decision there is no other option of joining them again that is there policy” said Hussein.
This act of breaking the promises made by the government will stop the other youths who were willing to defect from Al-Shabab to halt their determination of joining the Somali government.
The young man has added that so far the only thing which the government has provided them is food nothing more.
Nairobi Star: Militia use Mandera as attack launch pad
Militiamen allied to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government have used Kenyan territory to attack the Somali Islamist group Al Shabbab.
Government says casualties inside Kenya were a result of stray bullets from days of sporadic fighting along the Kenya-Somalia border. However video footage taken by a Mandera resident and obtained by the Star shows a Landrover loaded with mortar shells driving through the streets of of Mandera with uniformed Somali soldiers on board.
The video was shot about 200 meters away from the Mandera East District headquarters. Although it could not be verified, the Mandera resident told the Star that a well-known Somali warlord Bare Hirale was aboard the car.
Nairobi Star: Deploy Army in Mandera, Say MPs
MPs from North Eastern yesterday demanded the immediate reclamation of Mandera town said to have been seized by Ethiopian militia. Mandera East MP Mohamed Hussein Ali led MPs Aden Dualle of Dujis and Mohamed Affey (nominated) in demanding military action to secure the Kenyan territory which they said is under invasion. "Residents are fleeing Mandera town because of a war which has nothing to do with the people of Kenya. The government must take responsibility and secure the people," Hussein said.
He further said the town has been deserted as the militia from Ethiopia have taken over with the local security officers unavailable to secure Kenyans.
The three MPs were addressing journalists at a press conference in Parliament buildings. Nominated MP Mohamed Affey blamed the insecurity at the border of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somali to the absence of a minister for Foreign Affairs in Kenya. "This situation is escalating because Kenyan diplomacy is in shambles due to the absence of a serious Foreign Affairs minister," he said.
The legislator, who is also a career diplomat, said acting ministers are never taken seriously by their peers and called on President Kibaki to appoint a new minister in the docket.
George Saitoti is acting as the minister for Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Sirisia MP Moses Wetangula. Dujis MP Aden Dualle said Somali wars should not be fought in Kenya and called on the government to act for the security of Kenyans in Mandera. "The government must move to restore peace in the area by ensuring Somali wars are not fought in the Kenyan soil, "he said.
Reuters:
Ethiopian troops lined the border from the Kenyan town of Mandera east to the Ethiopian frontier town of Dollow, residents and a Somali military officer said.
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"The Ethiopian troops are heavily armed and deployed along the border between Mandera and Dollow, giving us ammunition," said the Somali officer on condition of anonymity.
"Our troops and the (government-allied) Ahlu Sunna fighters are in the frontline. The fighting will continue. We want sustained fighting to weaken their power," he said.
Kenyan military helicopters swooped along the border and over the Somali town of Balad Hawa where Somali troops have been locked in gun-battles and artillery fire with al Shabaab.
AFP: Burundian soldiers missing in Somalia
Burundian members of the African Union force in Somalia (AMISIOM) have been declared missing in action following intense fighting that took place week in Mogadishu, the army chief said.
"Some (Burundian) soldiers have been reported missing, that's true, but it doesn't mean they are dead or captured," General Godefroid Niyombare told reporters late Tuesday.
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"Some people are saying that dozens of soldiers were killed but all I can tell you that even one is one too many," the general said. "Whether six, 10 or 20 are dead, I don't see what would change if I told you."
The press release from France's embassy in Nairobi:
During the night, France evacuated 13 Burundian and Ugandan soldiers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by military aircraft to Djibouti so that they could receive emergency medical care. Some of these soldiers, who were wounded in combat during the past few days in Mogadishu, will be treated at the Bouffard hospital in Djibouti.
This is a way for France to concretely express its commitment to the African Union and to all those who work for peace and stability in Somalia. France hails the courage and determination of AMISOM soldiers in the face of unacceptable attacks. France also expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the Burundian and Ugandan soldiers who died in recent days.
Coordinated w/ this release from the (proofreader-less) U.S. embassy in Nairobi: U.S. Appreciation for Courage and Dedication of TFG and AMISOM Troops
The United States extends its admiration and appreciation for the professionalism, dedication and courage demonstrated by the Transitional Federal Government National Security Forces and the AMISOM troops from Uganda and Burundi during the recent military operations in Mogadishu. AMSIOM forces are in Mogadishu to support the TFG as it seeks to bring peace and stability back to Somalia.
Since February 22, TFG and AMISOM troops have, under heavy fire and with careful consideration for innocent civilians, advanced on a number of fronts in Mogadishu in operations designed to push extremist insurgents further away from the populated areas of Mogadishu.
These advances have not come without costs and the United States wishes to recognize the significant sacrifices borne by both the TFG National Security forces and the AMISOM troops. The United States extends its deepest condolences to the Somali, Burundi and Ugandan families of the fallen.
These advances have not come without costs and the United States wishes to recognize the significant sacrifices borne by both the TFG and the AMISOM troops that support them.
There's a reason they didn't want their own boots on the ground.
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SMC: Somali government silenced local FM radio station in Mogadishu
Kulmiye which is one of the independent local radio stations in Mogadishu, and officially came into air on the 13th of February 2011, was silenced by the security department of the Somali Transitional Federal government on Wednesday, with no genuine reason as the director of the Kulmiye Mr. Osman Abdullah Guure has stated.
“In fact by the time the security personnel had arrived at the station was not there, I went to attend a meeting which the Minister for information of the Somali Transitional federal has invited journalists from the different FM radio stations in Mogadishu, and suddenly I got the news that the radio station was shutdown by the security department of the Somali government, in fact the security personnel had brought a letter from the National security Agency, and had the signature of Lieutenant Colonel Khalif Ahmed at the bottom” said Guure the director of Kulmiye radio station.
Some other independent reports say that the radio station was silenced, because in the early hours’ news it has aired the voices, of youths who claimed that they have defected from Al-Shabab, and have not received the pledges made by the Somali government for them.
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Shabelle Media: Trained Ahlu Sunna fighters in Ethiopia returned in central Somalia
More fighters loyal to Somalia’s moderate Ahlu Sunna Waljama’ ASWJ, who have been trained in neighboring Ethiopia, returned to parts of Galgudud region in central Somalia, reports said on Thursday.-- -- --
More fighters armed with both heavy and light weapons from Ahlu Sunna Waljama’ could be seen patrolling in the districts of Balanbal and Dhusamareb, according to reports from Galgudud.
It is said that about one thousand of fighters, who consummated their training mission inside Ethiopia for four months, are now in central Somalia.
In Balabal, military officials from Ethiopia are reported to have reached there and held meetings with the administrations of Ahlu Sunna.
Reports suggested that the trained Ahlu Sunna fighters are to take on and wage new offensives against Al shabaab fighters in Galgudud region in central Somalia.
Did they really think they were going to hide these kind of numbers?
AFP: 43 Burundian soldiers killed in Somalia offensive: military
At least 43 Burundian soldiers have been killed and 110 have been wounded since the start of a Somali government-African Union offensive against insurgents on February 23, military sources said.
"The official toll given so far is totally false," a military source in Mogadishu who requested anonymity told AFP. "In reality, 43 soldiers of the Burundi contingent ... have been killed, another four are missing and 110 were wounded during the last joint offensive ... in Mogadishu."
A senior military officer in the Burundi capital Bujumbura confirmed the toll.
"The majority of these soldiers were killed on the first day of the offensive," he said. "They came upon many insurgents at a major target located near the former defence ministry which we conquered."
AP: 53 peacekeepers foreign fighters killed in Somalia offensive
More than 50 African Union peacekeepers have died in fighting in Somalia since a major offensive against Islamist militants began two weeks ago, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.
The death toll is far higher than any publicly acknowledged casualty figures for the AU, which appears to be trying to keep the extent of its losses under wraps due to political considerations in Burundi, one of two nations providing the bulk of the forces that are fighting alongside Somali troops.
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The AU force, known as AMISOM, has publicly confirmed only a handful of deaths since heavy fighting broke started Feb. 19. An AU spokesman in Nairobi did not answer calls Friday. Burundi's government spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Wafula Wamunyinyi, the second-highest ranking official on the AU's commission for Somalia, declined to discuss casualty figures when reached Friday.
"I don't have that information where I am now," he said.
Two Nairobi-based diplomats said at least 43 Burundian and 10 Ugandan troops have been killed since Feb. 18, citing information from people involved in the operation. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
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Medical authorities say the most recent round of fighting has killed more than 100 Somali civilians.
Keydmedia: Mogadishu clashes leave 82 AU troops dead
Government sources have confirmed the deaths of as many as 82 soldiers of the African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) in clashes with al-Shabab fighters over the past two weeks.
At least 190 other AMISOM troops have also sustained serious injuries in the clashes and have been flown to neighboring Djibouti for treatment, said the officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
A Somali military colonel accused the AMISOM spokesman Major Ba-Hoku Barigye of underestimating the AU death toll in Somalia.
VOA:
A report by an AU commander in Somalia said recent fighting in Mogadishu has killed at least 40 peacekeepers and wounded 130 others.-- -- --
The figures, cited in excerpts of a letter obtained by VOA's Somali service, are far higher than those publicly disclosed.
The letter said AU troops suffered the casualties during operations last month to retake key sites from al-Shabab militants. The letter said the operations involved peacekeepers from Burundi.
A spokesman for the AU peacekeeping contingent, known as AMISOM, would not confirm or deny the casualty reports.
But a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, told VOA Friday the bloc has information that at least 50 AU troops have died in recent fighting in Somalia.
From an AMISOM press release on Saturday: AMISOM forces foil a vehicle-born suicide attack on its new base
AMISOM forces this morning have foiled a suicide vehicle attack against the AMISOM base at the former Ministry of Defense Headquarters, Gashandiga, recently established by the Burundi Contingent. The sentries manning the base identified and destroyed an insurgent vehicle that was fast approaching the base from the Industrial Road in the northwest of the city.
However, some media were reporting otherwise
Garowe Online: 21 killed in Mogadishu violence
Fighting between African Union troops, Somali government forces, pro-government militiamen on one side and Al-Shabaab and its allies on the other end killed at least 21 people and injured over 40 others in the Somali capital, Radio Garowe Reports.
The fighting erupted former Ministry of Defence building (Gashandiga) along Industrial Road in the northwest of the city, which was recently taken by AU forces.
“A suicide car bomb exploded near an African Union base in Mogadishu. I have seen ten dead bodies mostly TFG and Al-shabaab soldiers and injured ones,” eyewitness told Garowe Online.
However, AMISOM spokesman Major Barigye Ba-Hoku said the suicide attack was blocked by AMISOM Burundi Contingent manning the entrance of the base.
Mogadishu ambulance service officials said they have saw 11 dead bodies of civilians and assisted more than 10 wounded people who are currently admitted in various hospitals across the restive capital.
Press TV: 70 die in Mogadishu car bombing: report
At least 70 Somali troops have been killed by two car bombs that detonated near two government security installations in the capital, according to a report.-- -- --
The twin car bombs targeted the government training facilities for security forces, located in southern Mogadishu's Industrial Road district, on Saturday.
About 160 Somali soldiers also sustained injuries in the powerful blasts, the Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu reported.
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Somali Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunications Abdulkareem Jama confirmed the incidents, but rejected the alleged death toll.
Jama said only the bombers were killed in the attacks, adding that African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops and Somali government forces suffered no casualties.
Garowe Online: 25 killed in new offensive of re-capturing Bula Hawa town
Somalia’s pro-government have seized the control of Bula Hawa town in southern Somalia from hard-lines after fierce fighting that killed at least 25 combatants, witnesses said.
The clashes erupted on Saturday, forcing the fighters to vacate the town after several hours of fierce gun battles, residents said.
Reuters:
Residents said they were woken up by the sound of artillery fire early on Saturday, prompting them to flee their homes.
“We have run to the border. Kenya has fully closed its border and brought all its troops and weapons, we don't know what to do. Even if the government troops and Ahlu Sunna push them (Shabaab) back we will be dead because of lack of shelter and the cross fire,” said Maryan Maalim, mother of two children.
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Hussein Ali, another Beledhawo resident said Kenyan and Ethiopian troops were still deployed along their borders close to Mandera.
AFP:
A local official said the hard-line militants ... had left the town of Bulo Hawo on the Kenyan border with Ethiopia Saturday following two weeks of intense fighting.
"We are in full control" of Bulo Hawo, declared Mohamed Abdi Khalif.
A Shebab militant on condition of anonymity said that the group had retreated due to a change in tactics.
"We will regain Bulo Hawo and Shabab troops who retreated for military reasons are not far away," he said.
The pro-regime forces include militia led by local warlord Barre Shire Hirale and armed members of Sufi group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama that are backed by elements of Ethiopia's army, security sources have told AFP.
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Clashes in the town erupted on February 19, around the same time that pro-government forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) launched an offensive in the capital Mogadishu. AMISOM aims to help the fragile transitional government fight insurgents.
A third offensive opened in central Beledweyne.
The simultaneous campaigns appeared aimed at stretching Shebab forces so thinly that they would not be able to concentrate their fighting in Mogadishu.
So much for that idea
Shabelle Media: Al shabaab deploys more fighters to war-torn Mogadishu
The administration of Al shabaab movement in Bay and Bokool regions in southern Somalia on Friday started deploying more of its fighters to Mogadishu to stoke battles against Somali government army baked African Union peacekeepers.
After hundreds of Al shabaab fighters completed training in southern Somalia, hundreds of local residents congregated to show support to the fighters.
Sheikh Mokhtar Robow Abu Mansur, Sheikh Fu’ad Mohammed Khalaf and other official were present at the time of the deployment.
Sheikh Mahad Omar Abdikarim, Al shabaab’s chairman for Bay and Bakool regions has told the crowd that he sent the trained fighters to Mogadishu to reinvigorate the fighting which is going on in Somalia’s seaside capital Mogadishu.
Shabelle Media: Somali president admits they retook over Belet-hawo with Ethiopian help
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the president of the transitional federal government of Somalia on Saturday night admitted the Somali army got logistical support from Ethiopian military when they retook the border town of Belet-hawo in Gedo region in southern Somalia.
In a joint pres conference by the president and his prime minister, Ahmed said that Somali government is overnight controlling Belet-hawo, calling for Somali army to continue anti Al shabaab fighting.
SMC quotes Sh. Sharif:
In the Press conference the President was asked whether Ethiopian soldiers we part of the attack in Bula-Hawo district.
“No! absolutely there were no Ethiopian troops who were part of the fight in which the Somali government troops have retaken control of Bula-Hawo district, but they merely provided logistic assistance to the government soldiers” added President Shariff.
Nairobi Star:
The Safina party has condemned the use of Kenyan territory by Ethiopian government and the Transitional Federal Government of Somali to launch attacks on al Shabaab militia in Somalia.
The party said the operation in Mandera is being done with the full knowledge of the Kenya government. It said Kenya is exposing innocent civilians because of "government's bungled policy towards Somalia".
Executive director David Wanjohi said the party, however, condemned threats by al Shabab and asked the militia to confine its war to the combatants and not civilians. "Kenya lost the opportunity of spearheading lasting peace in Somalia when it sided with TFG against the Union of Islamic Courts government, which enjoyed widespread grassroots support," the statement said.
Shabelle Media: Ethiopian forces reach at central Somalia
Military forces from neighboring Ethiopia have reached at and set up temporary bases the districts of Guriel and Dhusamareb in Galgudud region in central Somalia.
Officials from Somalia’s moderate Ahlu Sunna Waljama’, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the presence of Ethiopian military in central Somalia tonight.
The officials said the forces entered the Galgudud region from the district of Balanbal.
But, the reason of their arrival there is still unclear. About 800 fighters of Ahlu Sunna, who were recently completed a training course by Ethiopian instructors inside Ethiopia were deployed in one camp and supplied both heavy and light guns.
It is said the fighters are ready to take on Al shabaab movement in Galgudud region.
AllVoices: Ethiopian troops form new military bases in parts of central Somalia
More Ethiopian troops accompanied with more armed vehicles have reached at Dhusomareb and Griel towns in central Somalia on Saturday after noon and made new military bases on more different positions in the town.-- -- --
Officials of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a clerics confirmed that the Ethiopian troops were from the sides of Balanbal town of the same region and divided into the two sides of Dusomareb, the centre of Galgudud region adding that the troops made their first military position at the 21 military camp in the town.
The grounds of the Ethiopian troops entrance to the region is unclear, but some of the Islamist clerics of Ahlu Sunna Walajama’a who declined to comment more said that they could not discuss the reasons of the Ethiopian troops’ arrival to the media.
On the other hand more than 8000 fighters of Ahlu Sunna and trained in Ethiopia got their weapons from the military dress on Saturday. Ahlu Sunna officials said that the trained forces would start big offensive against Al-shabab earlier.
How ever the number of the Ethiopian soldiers and their vehicles is unclear, but the troops seem to be part of more Ethiopian troops entering to more regions in south and central Somalia recently for plans to support the transitional government of Somalia.
Latest analysis from Prof. Michael Weinstein: The “International Community” and the T.F.G. do a Mirror Dance
An internal policy briefing from the E.U., which was provided by a trusted source, offers insight into the differences between Washington and Brussels within the context of their common rift with I.G.A.D.
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Turning to regaining some control for the “donor”-powers, the briefing’s “key recommendation” is “that the EU now needs to press for institutional reform of the Transitional Federal Institutions” [work within the T.F.G. to transform it] and back its pressure through the carrot and stick of donations “supporting the political agenda.” The EU, the briefing recommends, “should support international efforts” to reduce the T.F.P.’s term extension, but there should be “no request for a reversal of the T.F.P.’s decision.”
It is at this point of settling upon the strategy of accepting the T.F.P.’s fait accompli and then attempting to gut it and undermine it that the E.U. runs up against Washington’s decision to try to get the term extension reversed. The T.F.P.’s fait accompli “seems difficult to reverse,” the briefing argues, and trying to do so courts the risk of fighting “an already lost battle and thereby losing time and focus.”
According to an independent closed source in East Africa, Washington wants to replace the entire T.F.G. and T.F.P., and admits that it was “outmaneuvered” by the T.F.P. ”and does not know how to respond” to its loss.
The split between the E.U. and U.S., and the unresolved rift between both and Ethiopia (I.G.A.D.) causes a policy breakdown among the “donor”-powers that stops them and the U.N. from exerting control over events, although it can complicate them by efforts to take initiatives without unity and consensus, which appears to be what has happened. The Western powers, which continually accuse the T.F.G. and T. F.P. of failing to get their act together, suffer from the same syndrome. The E.U. briefing is correct that with August drawing near the “donor”-powers are “losing time and focus,” but not because, as the briefing says, Washington’s position is not viable (which is probably the case), but because the “donor”-powers cannot agree among themselves on the “way forward.”
