Al-Shabaab Falls: KDF finally capture port city of Kismayu

[livefire]

Kenyan forces launched a three-pronged attack on Kismayu in an effort to flush outAl Shabaab militants from their last stronghold in Somalia.

A military spokesman said a large part of the city had fallen into Kenyan hands "without resistance" after rapid pre-dawn attacks from the north, the south, and from the Indian Ocean. President Kibaki, the Commander-in-Chief of Kenya's Armed Forces, released a message in the afternoon praising KDF troops for the capture of Kismayu.

There were, however, reports that fighting continued as remnants of Al Shabaab prepare to make their last stand outside the port city.

News of Kismayu's capture has sent Kenyans into celebration, even as KDF warns this is not the end of the campaignagainst Al Shabaab. There was little resistance to the long-awaited ground assault by forces massed under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).

After a four-month siege of the port city, and days of naval bombardment, Kenyan troops under Amisom made a beach landing yesterday under the cover of darkness. Others advanced on the city overland from the north and south.

A small team at the head of a snake-like formation inserted at the beach rapidly entered the city and took up positions before any militants could react to the surprise attack. The amphibious assault was supported by aerial bombardment ofsuspected Al Shabaab targets. Within hours, having met little resistance, KDF officials were claiming control of most of the port city.

KDF Spokesman Maj Emmanuel Chirchir says the port city fell into Amisom hands by 2am Friday; about two hours after the assault began.

"We launched an amphibious operation in Kismayu just after midnight and by 01:00 hours, our troops had pushed far into the town," he said. "We have captured more than three-quarters of thetown. During the surprise attack we met with little resistance. We have asked the people (living in the city) not to interact with Al Shabaab."

Neutralise targets

As at the time he spoke to The Standard On Saturday , he had not received reports of any casualties. Reuters and BBC quotedvarious sources saying shelling and fighting could be heard outside the city.

Amisom's Ugandan commander independently confirmed the first wave oftroops had entered the city, and said more were on the way.

"Operations are ongoing to neutralise specific Al Shabaab?targets in Kismayu," Amisom Force Commander Lieutenant-General Andrew Gutti said, in a media statement. "We urge all fighters to lay down their arms. We have assured them of their safety if they give themselves up."

The fall of Kismayu followed four months of planning involving top military commanders of troop contributing countries Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, and Sierra Leone. The officers have been meeting at the Kenya Defence College in Karen, Nairobi, since August, to plan the seizure of the city and discuss how to fill the power vacuum that would be created by Al Shabaab's defeat.

The challenge was to co-ordinate an attack with naval, ground and air forces without "collateral damage" (killing civilians by mistake) or "blue-on-blue encounters" (friendly fire).

A Kenyan military officer based at the Amisom headquarters in Mogadishu provided details of how the operation was planned and executed. His account was corroborated by Department of Defence sources.

"KDF employed a ‘choke strategy' during which Kismayu was under siege from all directions," explained the officer, who cannot be identified because he lacks the authority to speak for Amisom. "For morethan four months, there was no movement of goods into and out of the port city. The intention was to weaken Al Shabaab by reducing their capacity to attack or resist."

Wednesday saw the naval bombardment of enemy gun positions on the port's jettyto clear the way for beach landing. Duringthe Friday predawn strike, KDF launched athree-pronged assault using aerial, ground, and naval forces.

 

[livefire]

Using fast-moving amphibious craft, a vanguard (the leading part of a military formation) of crack soldiers secured a beachhead then led the march into Kismayu.

According to our source, the ‘snake' formation - a small team going in first as the ‘head' followed by a longer ‘tail' - caught residents of Kismayu by surprise, giving Al Shabaab little time to mount resistance. Two other groups advanced on the city from the north and south, heading to pre-assigned targets under the cover of darkness.

"The idea was to cut off the city's southern airfield, an open corridor used by Al Shabaab to move their arsenal, before capturing other key positions where the militia operates," the officer disclosed. Four naval ships and several helicopter gunships were involved in the attacks.

"This is a game changer for the people of Somalia," President Kibaki said in a statement yesterday. He said Kenya wouldparticipate in the reconstruction of Somalia and appealed to its people to embrace reconciliation. He, however, warned "extremist, terrorist and fundamentalist forces" may try to destabilise the country and the region.

Telltale signs

There had been telltale signs that a major military strike in southern Somalia was in the offing. A week ago, KDF fighter jets bombed installations at the airport, flattening an armoury and warehouse used by Islamist extremists.

In the same week, DoD declared October 14 a KDF Day, saying preparations were on to commemorate the first anniversary since Kenyan tanks rolled into Somalia. Asked if the celebration of the KDF were apointer to the imminent fall of Kismayu, KDF spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna said the day was set aside to reflect on the first time since Independence Kenyan soldiers had crossed into a foreign territory to fight in a war. Even as Col Oguna played down the significance of the KDF Day, an officer of the rank of a captain had told The Standard On Saturday that a team of senior officers were preparing to fly out to Kismayu to "monitor" progress in the war on Al Shabaab.

DoD photos released to the media yesterday shows Chief of the Defence Forces General Julius Karangi with other soldiers in Kismayu. Gen Karangi took charge of KDF last year, just months before KDF forces entered Somalia in "hotpursuit" of Al Shabaab. Three weeks priorto the attack, the commander of KDF troops in Amisom; Maj-Gen SN Karanja had been non-committal on his troops' advance. "Soon. Very soon," he told The Standard On Saturday in Mogadishu.

Despite the losses, Al Shabaab still maintained they were in control of the port city. A commander of the militia group quoted by BBC admitted Amisom troops were in Kismayu, but denied Al Shabaab had lost the fight for the city. Sheik Mohamed Abu-Fatuma, was quoted as saying,"The enemy (KDF) has deployed hundredsof soldiers in the coast late last night and the mujahedeen fighters are engaging them in heavy fighting. God willing, they would be defeated."

Town residents also quoted by BBC confirmed the presence of KDF outside the city centre and that Al Shabaab had fled.
In an interview with our sister station KTN, Col Oguna said in the lead-up to the seizure of Kismayu, KDF backed by the Somali National Army, the Ras Kamboni Brigade and the Ahlu wal Jumma Sunna, routed Al Shabaab from Kismayu. He said on Thursday that the operation to liberateKismayu had taken into account measures to avoid "collateral damage".

Kenya deployed troops in Somalia in October, last year, hoping to mop up the Al Shabaab fighters in the south to stabilise the country that has been at war with itself since 1991. Kismayu is the commercial hub of the lawless Somalia and key to revenue generation that has sustained Al Shabaab's resistance in Sector II, which is the region generally known as ‘Jubaland'.

Standard Digital Mobile :: How KDF took Kismayu

 

[chash]

Hongera KDF. Amphibious operation 'sledge hammer'. Just like in the movies.

 

[kwamwewe]

Kenyan troops take control of Shabaab stronghold Kismayu
​

​

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) celebrate after capturing the Somalia town of Jana Cabdalla, 40km from Kismayu last week. KDF said it had taken control of Kismayu September 28, 2012. NATION MEDIA GROUP
​

By NATION Reporter
Posted Friday, September 28 2012 at 08:27


In Summary

• On Thursday, the commander of the Ras Kamboni Brigade, Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, told the Nation the final push to take the city was imminent.
  

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have taken control of Kismayu, the last remaining al-Shabaab stronghold in Somalia.

KDF information officer Cyrus Oguna said the military entered Kismayu at 2.00am and advised locals to avoid areas where the troops are operating.

"KDF troops have taken control of Kismayu!!!," the military said Friday.

"Residents are advised to avoid areas where KDF and SNA troops are to avoid collateral damage."

KDF said it had suffered no casualties.

"Our troops are safe and sound, so far no casualties," the military said.

On Thursday, the commander of the Ras Kamboni Brigade, Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, told the Nation the final push to take the city was imminent.

"I believe the campaign to liberate Kismayu is in the final stages. We are in the process of wrapping it up. I hope by early next week, the city of Kismayu will be in our hands, God willing.

"Everything is going according to plan. Our combined forces are advancing on multiple fronts and they are on course towards entering the city from all corners early next week," he said in a telephone interview.

On Thursday, at around 5.30pm KDF jets bombed Kismayu airport destroying an armoury store.

And on Thursday, the military destroyed the militia's training and command facility in the outskirts of Kismayu.

Last week, KDF and African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) captured Jana Cabdalla as they marched towards the port city of Kismayu.

The town, which was a transport corridor for the al-Shabaab, is 40km from Kismayu.

On the march to Kismayu, KDF had told residents to keep off areas in and around the city.

"We urge the residents of Kismayu to remain calm and stay away from al-Shabaab targets. Civilian safety and security is a top priority for KDF."

Kenyan troops take control of Shabaab stronghold Kismayu - News - nation.co.ke

hiyo picha mbona kama niliiona zamani sana humu jf.

 

[masopakyindi]

I sicirely congratulate the Kenya Armed Forces and the AMISOM Forces for capturing Kismayu, Al Shababs stronghold and main base.

This action has expressed Kenya's resolve to eradicate those rag-tag , hit and run Al Shabab bandits who are now on the run.
This action has definitely made East Africa a safer place to live, and the Al Shabab threats are to be history soon.

They just wish they had not attacked Kenya!

 

[Alwaz]

President Museveni,,,did say that the Kenyan Defense forces never knew
anything about war and that all they new,,the KDF,,was from watching
videos.

So watching videos,,,after all,,wasn't that bad idea,,at least,,they learned
so much mistakes made by others.

Let's see what's happens,,next,for it is very early,,for celebrations,,
,,,though we Kenyans and many others,,,are very proud of the
good work by the KDF.

Some lessons to Americans,,,,,Vita si kifua cha kutisha,,vita
ni kuelewa ambaye mko vitani naye.

And to the Shababs,,,,,,,Ukiona Simba amelala,,,usithani
ni ka-doggy:biggrin:eti,,,,'ukarushie' jiwe,,,,,:wink:

Hizi nchi zote Uganda,Kenya,Burundi,Pakistan na makundi mengine moja moja ni kama vile mbwa tu wa kuwindia ngawira za wakubwa.Hakuna cha kufurahia wala cha kutambia.
Boti,drone na vyengine ni zana za kazi kutoka kwa wakubwa.Wenyewe wanakimbia maeneo waliyojitwalia.Itakuwaje Kenya na wenzake tutaweza kuhimili kufa kila siku kwa miripuko ya kujitoa muhanga?.Usidhani wasomali watalala wakubali kutawaliwa na makafiri.
Wamechokozwa na kusingiziwa uongo mwingi.Eti wanateka meli nyara.Nani kaona hivyo vitendo.Si wote mnasoma tu.Uchokokozi na visingizio hivi ndivyo vinavyopelekea dunia kuwa pahala pabaya kuishi.

 

[Miaghay]

There is a different between capturing a place and walking into a place.

 

[Bamzi]

Usidhani wasomali watalala wakubali kutawaliwa na makafiri.
Wamechokozwa na kusingiziwa uongo mwingi.Eti wanateka meli nyara.Nani kaona hivyo vitendo.Si wote mnasoma tu.Uchokokozi na visingizio hivi ndivyo vinavyopelekea dunia kuwa pahala pabaya kuishi.

sidhani kama unataka kuniambia ya kwamba lazima ushuhudie jambo kwa macho yako mwenyewe ili liwe lilitendeka.
Sijui pia wasema wasomali wepi hao ambao hawatolala ,sema alshabaab,maanake wasomali wanataka amani.Huo uchokozi unaozungumzia pia ni upuzi mtupu.Kama wewe ni mmoja wa wale waliokuwa wakipokea hela kupitia kismayu basi pole-----ITS OVER

 

[tomilay]

This Museveni simpleton actually compared Kenya's military to the DRC's. I bet he has now gone back to the drawing board. Playing catch up. He has 50 years of catching up to do. Kenya's demonstrated capabilities are something his UPDF militia simply does not have.

According to the cable, Mr Museveni described the Kenyan forces as a “career army” and wondered about their ability to sustain bush fighters. “Is Kenya used to fighting like this (bush and guerrilla warfare)? Would Kenya be able to provide logistical support to its Somali allies?” Mr Museveni wondered. “Fighting is foremost ideological, especially in a stateless conflict. The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo face a similar challenge, said Museveni,” he was quoted.

Wikileaks: Museveni discredits Kenya army*- National*|monitor.co.ug

 

[Alwaz]

sidhani kama unataka kuniambia ya kwamba lazima ushuhudie jambo kwa macho yako mwenyewe ili liwe lilitendeka.
Sijui pia wasema wasomali wepi hao ambao hawatolala ,sema alshabaab,maanake wasomali wanataka amani.Huo uchokozi unaozungumzia pia ni upuzi mtupu.Kama wewe ni mmoja wa wale waliokuwa wakipokea hela kupitia kismayu basi pole-----ITS OVER

Nakubaliana na wewe kuwa si kila unachosadiki lazima uwe umeona.Lakini muhimu kumjua yule anayekwambia jambo ndipo uendelee kuamini.Vile vile hadi uzingatie mazingira na upime ukweli kwa akili yako.Unajua binadamu sio sawa na fisi.
Ikiwa mtu ni muongo sana na kawahi kusema uongo mwingi hupaswi kumuamini tena akiendelea kukudanganya.
Kwa akili yako unadhani kweli wasomali kwa kutumia boti ndogo waliweza kuingia maji mikondo mikubwa kuteka meli mpaka iwe ndio sababu ya nchi ndogo ndogo nyingi na mataifa makubwa yaende kuwakomesha kuendelea na utekaji nyara huo.Hapo hapo wanaoitwa Alshabaab walishasema wanapinga vitendo hivyo.Sasa kwanini mipango ya Kenya ikiongozwa kutoka mbali bado imeendelea.
Elewa kwamba Alshabaab ni jinamizi la Kenya na vibaraka wenzake lakini si kundi la uhakika.Vyovyote iwavyo,wawe wachache wawe wengi ajabu hawamaliziki na hawashindiki.Kenya na wenzake wataendelea kulia lia kila siku.
Mwenyewe nakupa pole wewe.Kwani hakuna shaka Kenya na wenzake wameingia kwenye machafuko na hawatoweza kujutoa hata wakipenda hapo baadae.Uliza Pakistan,Iraq na Libya.Wakati gani bora kwao uliopita au ni sasa?.

 

[kwamwewe]

sidhani kama unataka kuniambia ya kwamba lazima ushuhudie jambo kwa macho yako mwenyewe ili liwe lilitendeka.
Sijui pia wasema wasomali wepi hao ambao hawatolala ,sema alshabaab,maanake wasomali wanataka amani.Huo uchokozi unaozungumzia pia ni upuzi mtupu.Kama wewe ni mmoja wa wale waliokuwa wakipokea hela kupitia kismayu basi pole-----ITS OVER

hiyo amani ingalianza kuwekwa kwenye hizo nchi zinazojifanya zimekwenda kuweka amani . Maana si kenya wala uganda wala ethiopia hizo nchi hazina amani wala hiyo demokrasia. Tutaona mengi Mungu atupe uhai

 

[Saint Ivuga]

Hizi nchi zote Uganda,Kenya,Burundi,Pakistan na makundi mengine moja moja ni kama vile mbwa tu wa kuwindia ngawira za wakubwa.Hakuna cha kufurahia wala cha kutambia.
Boti,drone na vyengine ni zana za kazi kutoka kwa wakubwa.Wenyewe wanakimbia maeneo waliyojitwalia.Itakuwaje Kenya na wenzake tutaweza kuhimili kufa kila siku kwa miripuko ya kujitoa muhanga?.Usidhani wasomali watalala wakubali kutawaliwa na makafiri.
Wamechokozwa na kusingiziwa uongo mwingi.Eti wanateka meli nyara.Nani kaona hivyo vitendo.Si wote mnasoma tu.Uchokokozi na visingizio hivi ndivyo vinavyopelekea dunia kuwa pahala pabaya kuishi.

Islamic countries

 

[Koborer]

Nakubaliana na wewe kuwa si kila unachosadiki lazima uwe umeona.Lakini muhimu kumjua yule anayekwambia jambo ndipo uendelee kuamini.Vile vile hadi uzingatie mazingira na upime ukweli kwa akili yako.Unajua binadamu sio sawa na fisi.
Ikiwa mtu ni muongo sana na kawahi kusema uongo mwingi hupaswi kumuamini tena akiendelea kukudanganya.
Kwa akili yako unadhani kweli wasomali kwa kutumia boti ndogo waliweza kuingia maji mikondo mikubwa kuteka meli mpaka iwe ndio sababu ya nchi ndogo ndogo nyingi na mataifa makubwa yaende kuwakomesha kuendelea na utekaji nyara huo.Hapo hapo wanaoitwa Alshabaab walishasema wanapinga vitendo hivyo.Sasa kwanini mipango ya Kenya ikiongozwa kutoka mbali bado imeendelea.
Elewa kwamba Alshabaab ni jinamizi la Kenya na vibaraka wenzake lakini si kundi la uhakika.Vyovyote iwavyo,wawe wachache wawe wengi ajabu hawamaliziki na hawashindiki.Kenya na wenzake wataendelea kulia lia kila siku.
Mwenyewe nakupa pole wewe.Kwani hakuna shaka Kenya na wenzake wameingia kwenye machafuko na hawatoweza kujutoa hata wakipenda hapo baadae.Uliza Pakistan,Iraq na Libya.Wakati gani bora kwao uliopita au ni sasa?.

Kenya could not have bothered to move in had Al-Shabaab confined its madness within the borders of Somalia. When they started cross border abduction of tourists, Kenyan citizens and soldiers this was bound to get a response. This has nothing with being anyone's proxy. Kenya exercised restraint long enough and had to content with a daily influx of refugees ( now numbering over 600,000 ) escaping chaos in their motherland. What could Tanzania have done were it in Kenya's shoes? I believe the same action.

 

[Alwaz]

Kenya could not have bothered to move in had Al-Shabaab confined its madness within the borders of Somalia. When they started cross border abduction of tourists, Kenyan citizens and soldiers this was bound to get a response. This has nothing with being anyone's proxy. Kenya exercised restraint long enough and had to content with a daily influx of refugees ( now numbering over 600,000 ) escaping chaos in their motherland. What could Tanzania have done were it in Kenya's shoes? I believe the same action.

Wewe itakuwa ni mlalahoi kama mimi.Huna taarifa nyingi ndani ya serikali na hufuatilii matukio.Hivi Somalia na Ethiopia nani wamesababisha maafa zaidi kwa Kenya kuliko mwengine.Kwanini mnachagua adui wa kupambana nae.Hii ni dalili tosha kuwa kazi ya Somalia ni ya kutumwa tu.
Ukiuliza Tanzania unajidanganya tu.Wote ni mbwa koko tu hawana chao na hawaamui kwa akili zao.Wao na mfalme Abdullah sawa sawa.

 

[Koborer]

Wewe itakuwa ni mlalahoi kama mimi.Huna taarifa nyingi ndani ya serikali na hufuatilii matukio.Hivi Somalia na Ethiopia nani wamesababisha maafa zaidi kwa Kenya kuliko mwengine.Kwanini mnachagua adui wa kupambana nae.Hii ni dalili tosha kuwa kazi ya Somalia ni ya kutumwa tu.
Ukiuliza Tanzania unajidanganya tu.Wote ni mbwa koko tu hawana chao na hawaamui kwa akili zao.Wao na mfalme Abdullah sawa sawa.

Ethiopia has a functional government that we can talk whenever there are problems between us and them. We first engage in diplomacy before exploring other options including military action. This is a sensible thing to do. Indeed Tanzania did the same in the recent tension with Malawi over that resource rich lake. Over the years, we have had cross border raids from nomadic communities from Ethiopia who have often caused havoc in our country same as those from Uganda and Sudan. These communities do not have the blessings of the Ethiopian government when they engage in these raids and we have always understood it as such. What is more the two governments have always worked together to solve this menace. Thus it is not right for you to say that we are choosing enemies. If your argument is to be taken, then we should also be fighting Uganda and Sudan as well. This is not to say that we cannot fight Ethiopia should we suspect there is reasonable ground to do so.

 

[Alwaz]

Ethiopia has a functional government that we can talk whenever there are problems between us and them. We first engage in diplomacy before exploring other options including military action. This is a sensible thing to do. Indeed Tanzania did the same in the recent tension with Malawi over that resource rich lake. Over the years, we have had cross border raids from nomadic communities from Ethiopia who have often caused havoc in our country same as those from Uganda and Sudan. These communities do not have the blessings of the Ethiopian government when they engage in these raids and we have always understood it as such. What is more the two governments have always worked together to solve this menace. Thus it is not right for you to say that we are choosing enemies. If your argument is to be taken, then we should also be fighting Uganda and Sudan as well. This is not to say that we cannot fight Ethiopia should we suspect there is reasonable ground to do so.

There was a government in formation already when Kenya and its master started encroachment in Somalia.I mean the the Union of Islamic courts.Even these so called Shabaabs had their own chain of command.The problem is Kenya has been used to dismantle those systems as they are not wanted to reign.
In this case the obvious thing is not the lack of who to talk with but reluctance to talk to certaiin groups.This is not peace loving habit,and can mount to be another method of terrorism.I repeat to tell you that the war with Somalis has just begun.

 

[Koborer]

There was a government in formation already when Kenya and its master started encroachment in Somalia.I mean the the Union of Islamic courts.Even these so called Shabaabs had their own chain of command.The problem is Kenya has been used to dismantle those systems as they are not wanted to reign.
In this case the obvious thing is not the lack of who to talk with but reluctance to talk to certaiin groups.This is not peace loving habit,and can mount to be another method of terrorism.I repeat to tell you that the war with Somalis has just begun.

Ami,
For record it is not Kenya that dismantled the Islamic courts union. It was Ethiopia. This i agree was done after some prodding by the US. Kenya had no problem with this group. It is Ethiopia and the US who didn't like them. As for the Al- Shabaab, it is they who brought the war to us not the other way round. We know that by going in to sort them, there will be a price to pay. We are prepared and we don't regret.

 

[Nonda]

Hizi nchi zote Uganda,Kenya,Burundi,Pakistan na makundi mengine moja moja ni kama vile mbwa tu wa kuwindia ngawira za wakubwa.Hakuna cha kufurahia wala cha kutambia.
Boti,drone na vyengine ni zana za kazi kutoka kwa wakubwa.Wenyewe wanakimbia maeneo waliyojitwalia.Itakuwaje Kenya na wenzake tutaweza kuhimili kufa kila siku kwa miripuko ya kujitoa muhanga?.Usidhani wasomali watalala wakubali kutawaliwa na makafiri.
Wamechokozwa na kusingiziwa uongo mwingi.Eti wanateka meli nyara.Nani kaona hivyo vitendo.Si wote mnasoma tu.Uchokokozi na visingizio hivi ndivyo vinavyopelekea dunia kuwa pahala pabaya kuishi.

Deadly Kenya grenade attack hits children in church
One child has been killed and six critically hurt, the Red Cross says, in a grenade attack on a church's Sunday school in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The attacker targeted St Polycarp's church on Juja Road.
A police spokesman said they suspected sympathisers of Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist militants were to blame.

Link BBC News - Deadly Kenya grenade attack hits children in church

 

[Nonda]

Kenya could not have bothered to move in had Al-Shabaab confined its madness within the borders of Somalia. When they started cross border abduction of tourists, Kenyan citizens and soldiers this was bound to get a response. This has nothing with being anyone's proxy. Kenya exercised restraint long enough and had to content with a daily influx of refugees ( now numbering over 600,000 ) escaping chaos in their motherland. What could Tanzania have done were it in Kenya's shoes? I believe the same action.

Mind you. No proof has been given so far which tie Al shabaab with turists abduction. None.
The gvt put out statements for public consumption so they can have their war. A proxy war by the way!

If you have evidence that Al shabaab kidnapped tourists please share it here.

 

[Koborer]

Deadly Kenya grenade attack hits children in church
One child has been killed and six critically hurt, the Red Cross says, in a grenade attack on a church's Sunday school in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The attacker targeted St Polycarp's church on Juja Road.
A police spokesman said they suspected sympathisers of Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist militants were to blame.

Link BBC News - Deadly Kenya grenade attack hits children in church

A cowardly move, why hit little kids instead of going for the soldiers? All the more reason why persons with a terrorist mind MUST be exterminated at all costs.