@Somalia Report

Kenyan Soldiers Unloading at Somali Border (File Photo)

Kenyan troops armed with heavy weapons including tanks and attack helicopters entered the Kenyan–Somalia border town of El-Wak in Somalia's Gedo region on Tuesday as part of their efforts to fight al-Shabaab insurgents.

“Fighter jets and helicopters flew over hundreds of combat troops who crossed the border between the Somalia and Kenya early on Tuesday. They immediately started establishing temporary bases on the outskirts of El-Wak,“ Mohamed Abdulle, a resident in El-Wak told Somalia Report.

Mohamoud Arab, spokesman of the Transitional Federal Government forces in Gedo region, confirmed that Kenyan troops are currently deployed in El-Wak in a bid to fight against al-Shabaab.

“They are well equipped and supported by warplanes including helicopter gunships. I think that their mission is to fight and oust al-Shabaab from the region,“ the spokesman told Somalia Report.

This coincides with heavy rains in the Gedo region that military officials said could hinder their efforts at launching wider offensives against the insurgent group.

The Kenyan government sent troops to Somalia battle al-Shabaab after Somali gunmen kidnapped foreigners from Lamu and Dhadhab districts in Kenya.

Al-Shabaab officials denied they were involved the kidnappings of the foreigners from Kenya.

Officials from al-Shabaab met in Kismayo on Monday to plan their strategy to fight against the Kenyan forces entering Somalia.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Monday, Kenya Foreign Minister Moses Watangula has for the first time confirmed that Kenya troops crossed the border into Somalia to pursue the al-Shabaab militant group.

“We are not against the people and the government of Somalia but our intention is to maintain our security and tackle terrorist attacks and kidnaps by the al-Shabaab inside our country,“ said Watangula.

In written statement released on Monday by al-Shabaab, the insurgents denied the charges pertaining the kidnap of tourists and aid workers from inside Kenya.

"The allegations put forward by the Kenyan authorities with regard to the recent kidnappings are at best, unfounded, and apart from the mere conjectural corroborations, not substantiated with any verifiable evidence,” said the press release.

Sheikh Ali Mohamoud, a spokesman of al-Shabaab, warned that Kenyan troops incursion inside Somalia will lead Kenya into a wider war.

“We are experienced in war and we call on the Kenyan people not to let the flames of this war split over into their country,” he said vowing that al-Shabaab will continue its fight to territories inside Kenya.

Al-Shabaab Arrests Civilians

Meanwhile, at least 20 civilians were arrested today by al-shabaab in Afmadow town of Lower Juba region after they were accused of supporting the TFG and Kenyan forces in the region.

An eyewitness told Somalia Report that he saw well-known businessmen who were among those arrested and taken to an unknown area.

Al-Shabaab warned the community of Afmadow not to support any TFG or Kenya troops otherwise they will face consequences, according to an eyewitness who asked to be called Sharmake for security reasons.

“They arrested innocent people who are not politicians or involved in politics. They are just businessmen who struggle to take care of their families,” said Sharmake.

@Somalia Report

Puntland Forces

Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland today disarmed militias who were creating insecurity in Qardo, Baran and the outskirts of Garowe town, according to Puntland officials.

“We want to ensure the security of our region and eradicate militias who are carrying guns illegally,” said Puntland Minister of Internal Affairs Abdullahi Ahmed Jama (Ilkajir).

The minister added that Puntland will not allow clan militias to have weapons illegally; in this case, AK-47s and pistols.

The disarmament came after the two clans of Ali Jibrael and Mohamud sought revenge on one another over organized killings in recent days.

“Last week five businessmen were deliberately killed out of revenge between the clan militias in Qardo town and five others were wounded," explained the minister.

The businessmen, Mohamed Moahud Bile, Rage Sirqo, Mohamed Gurey, Mohamed Dhalawas and Boolo Shire Hirad were allegedly the victims of clan clashes.

Nabadon Liban Farah Hassan, a local resident, told Somalia Report they want the conflict between the two clans to end soon.

“We don’t want our clans or our region to become like southern Somalia where there are so many problems," he said referring to the al-Shabaab militia struggling to take control of Somalia.

He has also emphasized that peace is important to all the clans in Puntland and encouraged everyone to make peace unconditionally.

7 Dead in Clan Clashes in Mudug

Meanwhile, seven people were killed during a fierce gun battle between two clash over water wells and grasslands in area of Ba’adweyne area of southern Mudug region.

“Residents in Ba’adweyn told us seven people died. Tomorrow we will give the media full details,“ Ahmed Guure, the governor of Southern Mudug region, told Somalia Report by phone.

Photo/NATION

Marie Dedieu

Somali gunmen today told Somalia Report they will demand a ransom for the body of Marie Dedieu, the elderly Frenchwoman snatched from Kenya, who died in captivity.

The comment has been confirmed by the French Ministry, according to Reuters.

The abductor told Somalia Report they will notify the media and French officials once the amount is determined.

Whether the gunmen demanding the ransom are al-Shabaab militants, pirates or bandits remains unknown.

The 66-year-old was violently taken from her home in Manda Bay, Kenya on the Lamu peninsula on October 1. An intense effort was made to track her kidnappers while she was en-route to Somalia by the Kenyan maritime forces and expat pilots, but the two planes lost sight of her and her captors as darkness descended.

Dedieu’s friends had issued an appeal for the tetraplegic to be allowed to have access to cocktail of drugs she needed to stay alive.

Scott Longfellow, a close friend of Dedieu, told Somalia Report that as well as being tetraplegic (the captors left her wheelchair behind), Marie suffered from heart problems and cancer, and needed an array of prescription medicines to stay alive. Dedieu had been prescribed Flecaine and Sectral for cardiac arrhythmia and ventricular tachycardia, and also must take aspirin, painkillers, anti-depressants and drugs for gastric reflux.

It is not the first death of an expat at the hands of Somali gunmen. Briton David Tebbutt was murdered during a kidnap in September - also in Lamu - and his wife Judith remains kidnapped in central Somalia in the same town that the Chandlers were held. Violence and disregard for victims has become a hallmark of these recent kidnappings

Judith Tebbut was abducted from the luxury resort of Kiwayu on September 19, taken to Kismayo and then spotted in the central area by local elders. Also, on October 13, two Spanish nationals were kidnapped from Kenya's Dadaab camp, bringing the total of kidnapped civilians to five (Tebbutt is being held in Amara village in central Somalia, two South African crew kidnapped in September of 2010 on the yacht Choizil, are currently held on Koyaama island). Aid workers Blanca Thiebaut, 30 and Montserrat Serra, 40, the two kidnapped Spanish aid, workers exact locations are not yet known, but they were last seen in Kismayo.

They were kidnapped while working as logisticians for Medecins Sans Frontieres or Doctors without Borders. There is speculation on who is holding the rapidly escalating number of civilians, tourists, aid workers and yachtsmen.

Al-Shabaab does kidnap foreigners in Somalia, but has denied any involvement - although this has not stopped Kenya from blaming the insurgent group and launching a massive military operation on Somali soil aimed at securing the long, porous border.

USAF

Drone Firing Hellfire Missile

According to witnesses, the attack occurred late on Saturday.

"I have seen 11 bodies and we believe that it was a U.S. airstrike," Mohamud Abdirahman, one of the eyewitnesses said.

Locals said they had sighted what they believed to be U.S. drones hovering around the area over the last few days.

Witnesses told Somalia Report that the al-Shabaab fighters were regrouping and are now moving towards Afmadow town as they prepared for a counter attack against the TFG and Kenyan military forces.

“Heavy clashes may erupt anytime now but we don’t know how the situation will be," Abdirahman said.

It is not the first time that the U.S. drones have hit al-Shabaab bases in Lower Jubba regions.

In recent months, unmanned drones launched airstrikes against the al-Shabaab in Kismayo and Lower Jubba areas. The U.S. has a history of using drones to attack terrorist groups, such as the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab in Somalia.

Kenyan Soldiers Unloading at Somali Border (File Photo)

At least five Kenyan soldiers were injured after an explosion targeted their vehicle in Modakarey Village, Garissa district of North Eastern Kenya, according to an eyewitness.

“I saw the five injured Kenyan soldiers immediately after the explosion,” said eyewitness Jayte Rage.

Garissa Mayor Ismail confirmed the incident to Somalia Report.

“There were five government soldiers who sustained minor injuries and those who carried out the attack escaped,“ said the mayor.

Although no group has yet claimed responsibility, the motive points to the al-Shabaab insurgent group battling Kenya and the Somali government for control of the country, particularly after the group claimed responsibility for an RPG attack in Mandera.

Whether today's explosion was caused by an IED, landmine, RPG or other device is yet unknown.

Somalia Report will update this as more information becomes available.

Mandera Suspects Arrested

Meanwhile, at least 20 Somalis were arrested last night by Kenyan police in Mandera during security operations on suspicion of having links to al-Shabaab.

“This morning the businesses of Mandera are closed due to fear of the police because they are arresting innocent people who have not committed any crimes,” said local resident Garad Hire.

Mr. Abdi, a former township chief in Mandera, confirmed to Somalia Report that the police carried out operations and arrested the suspects.

“The police are not targeting the civilians but those they suspect they are linked to the militant group of al-Shabaab,“ said Mr. Abdi.

Local residents in Mandera are worried how it will impact them.

“I am one of the shopkeepers in Mandera and I think this operation will affect my business,“ Farhiya Noor told Somalia Report.