Kenyan military crosses into Somali

The Kenya military has crossed more than 100km into Somalia but it is not clear whether they were pursuing the suspected Al Shabaab militants who kidnapped two Spaniard aid workers in Dadaab and shot a Kenyan.

Informed sources within the military said the top command had expressed frustration that they learnt about the kidnap of the two aid workers two hours after the incident.

This is not, however, the first time the Kenyan security forces, often accused of being bystanders during incursions by the terror group, is crossing into the war-torn country.

Early this year, General Service Unit based in Liboi crossed the border into Somalia and killed several militants after their camp came under attack.

The military has also previously crossed into Somalia through Mandera while pursuing attackers.

†The military has, however, persistently denied crossing into Somalia, with former military spokesman Bogita Ongeri saying Kenya respected its neighbour’s sovereignty.

However, Somalis living on the villages with Kenya border have reported military presence or on transit into Somalia.

Kenya continues to pay the cost of the war in Somalia, with raids by the Al Shabaab being a major security concern.

There have been at least five major incursions into the country since the fall of Siad Barre regime in 1991.

Two years ago, armed Somalia militiamen raided Dadajabulla police post in now Wajir South District and freed people believed to have links to a terrorist group. Later, two Italian nuns, Caterina Giraudo, 67, and Maria Teresa Olivera, 60, and their driver were seized a short distance away from Elwak police station. They were released four months later after ransom was paid.

In 2005, armed militia kidnapped two police officers from Mandera and murdered them. In 2009 Al Shabaab held four senior education officials and a driver in captivity and used them to negotiate for demands they wanted the Kenyan Government to fulfill.

In the last five years, about 20 vehicles belonging to Government, non-governmental organisation and individuals have been seized.

Source: The Standard