Sunday, July 7, 2013

Dozens killed in battle for Somali port city

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/07/201375172136937577.html?utm_medium=referral



Dozens killed in battle for Somali port city


Clashes between rival warlords for control of Kismayo left at least 71
people dead last month, UN officials say.

Last Modified: 05 Jul 2013 20:28
Several rival factions claim ownership of Kismayo, a former stronghold of
the Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab [Reuters]

Battles between rival warlords in Somalia's key southern port city of
Kismayo have killed at least 71 people last month, UN officials have said.

"Recent fierce fighting... continues to have a profound impact on civilians
and humanitarian aid work in the Lower Juba region," the UN's World Health
Organisation (WHO) said on Friday, adding the clashes also left more than
300 injured last month.

The WHO, which supports hospitals treating the war-wounded in Kismayo, said
injuries and deaths outside the hospital are estimated to be much higher but
cannot be confirmed.

"Kismayo remains a volatile area, with observed increase in fighting among
warring factions, and other incidences of violence such as landmines and
hand grenade attacks," the WHO added.

Several rival factions claim ownership of Kismayo, where Kenyan and African
Union forces are now based after driving out the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab
group.

They include Ahmed Madobe, the chief of armed group Ras Kamboni, who in May
appointed himself "president" of Jubaland, and Bare Hirale, a former Somali
defence minister who also leads a powerful militia.

Kismayo has changed hands more than a dozen times since the collapse of the
central government in 1991.

The city was controlled by al-Shabab until last September when the armed
groups fled an offensive by Kenyan troops supported by Madobe's Ras Kamboni.

A local assembly last month declared Madobe president of the southern
Jubaland region, handing him back control of Kismayo.

But Somalia's central government, which does not view Madobe favourably,
said his appointment was unconstitutional.

Within days three other men had pronounced themselves president, including
Barre Hirale, a pro-Mogadishu former defence minister.

Regional capitals and Western donors are nervous of any reversal of security
gains made in Somalia by African Union peacekeepers in the fight against the
al Qaeda-linked fighters, seen as a threat to stability in east Africa and
beyond.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

No comments:

Post a Comment