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Kenya's Raila Odinga wants EU to attack Somalia's al-Shabab Islamists | Kenya's Raila Odinga wants EU to attack Somalia's al-Shabab Islamists |
(40 minutes later) | |
Kenya's prime minister has asked for help from the US and Europe in a "final onslaught" on the Somali port of Kismayo, the main stronghold of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab. | Kenya's prime minister has asked for help from the US and Europe in a "final onslaught" on the Somali port of Kismayo, the main stronghold of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab. |
Raila Odinga said Kenyan forces would get to Kismayo by August and asked for both funds and troops. | Raila Odinga said Kenyan forces would get to Kismayo by August and asked for both funds and troops. |
He said beating al-Shabab would need "an operation by land, sea and air". | He said beating al-Shabab would need "an operation by land, sea and air". |
EU warships are in the area to tackle pirates but attacking al-Shabab would be a huge escalation in their mission. | EU warships are in the area to tackle pirates but attacking al-Shabab would be a huge escalation in their mission. |
Such action does not fall under the EU's mandate. | |
The EU's anti-piracy mission has not yet responded to the call. | The EU's anti-piracy mission has not yet responded to the call. |
Its mandate was recently expanded to allow for land attacks against Somalia-based pirates. | Its mandate was recently expanded to allow for land attacks against Somalia-based pirates. |
Up to 10 warships are on patrol off the Horn of Africa as part of the EU's Atalanta operation, which was launched in 2008 to protect commercial shipping against pirate attacks. | Up to 10 warships are on patrol off the Horn of Africa as part of the EU's Atalanta operation, which was launched in 2008 to protect commercial shipping against pirate attacks. |
'Neutralise al-Shabab' | 'Neutralise al-Shabab' |
African Union soldiers, Ethiopian forces and Somali government troops have in recent months succeeded in driving al-Shabab from several towns. | African Union soldiers, Ethiopian forces and Somali government troops have in recent months succeeded in driving al-Shabab from several towns. |
Kenyan forces moved into Somalia last October and have been slowly moving toward Kismayo. | Kenyan forces moved into Somalia last October and have been slowly moving toward Kismayo. |
Kismayo is considered strategically important because the al-Shabab militants who control it get a significant portion of their funds by levying "taxes" on the port. | Kismayo is considered strategically important because the al-Shabab militants who control it get a significant portion of their funds by levying "taxes" on the port. |
"Without controlling Kismayo, it's very difficult to completely neutralise al-Shabab," Mr Odinga told journalists in Nairobi. | "Without controlling Kismayo, it's very difficult to completely neutralise al-Shabab," Mr Odinga told journalists in Nairobi. |
"It has taken time because our forces felt that to move in otherwise would have cost a lot of lives, both civilian and military." | "It has taken time because our forces felt that to move in otherwise would have cost a lot of lives, both civilian and military." |
Mr Odinga said he intended to ask the US to help pay for the assault. | Mr Odinga said he intended to ask the US to help pay for the assault. |
He said the US had previously "resisted" providing funds until Kenyan forces joined the African Union force known as Amisom. They joined earlier this month. | He said the US had previously "resisted" providing funds until Kenyan forces joined the African Union force known as Amisom. They joined earlier this month. |
"If they can also bring military assistance so much the better, but for now we are talking about financial assistance," he said. | "If they can also bring military assistance so much the better, but for now we are talking about financial assistance," he said. |
He said the EU was "reluctant" to commit because Kismayo is an al-Shabab stronghold and not a pirate stronghold. | He said the EU was "reluctant" to commit because Kismayo is an al-Shabab stronghold and not a pirate stronghold. |
But he said the international community should work together to "create an environment in Somalia that will facilitate the voluntary return of Somalis to Somalia." | But he said the international community should work together to "create an environment in Somalia that will facilitate the voluntary return of Somalis to Somalia." |