This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26955803
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Kenya sends back 'illegal' Somalis after Nairobi raids | Kenya sends back 'illegal' Somalis after Nairobi raids |
(34 minutes later) | |
Kenya has sent back 82 Somalis to Somalia after launching a massive security force operation to flush out illegal immigrants and militant Islamists. | Kenya has sent back 82 Somalis to Somalia after launching a massive security force operation to flush out illegal immigrants and militant Islamists. |
The group had been in Kenya illegally, a Somali diplomat said. | The group had been in Kenya illegally, a Somali diplomat said. |
Nearly 4,000 people have been arrested in raids over the past week in the capital Nairobi, but police say only 447 people are still being held. | Nearly 4,000 people have been arrested in raids over the past week in the capital Nairobi, but police say only 447 people are still being held. |
Somali militants have carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya since 2011. | Somali militants have carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya since 2011. |
The security operation has focused on Eastleigh, a mainly Somali neighbourhood in Nairobi. | The security operation has focused on Eastleigh, a mainly Somali neighbourhood in Nairobi. |
At least six people were killed in grenade explosions in Eastleigh on 31 March. | At least six people were killed in grenade explosions in Eastleigh on 31 March. |
'Mop up' | 'Mop up' |
No group said it carried out the attack. | No group said it carried out the attack. |
However, Kenya's government believes that Somalia's militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, operates in Eastleigh, and has support among some Somalis living there. | However, Kenya's government believes that Somalia's militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, operates in Eastleigh, and has support among some Somalis living there. |
Those arrested included women and children. They were taken to a sports stadium and various police stations to be interrogated and for their legal status to be checked, correspondents say. | Those arrested included women and children. They were taken to a sports stadium and various police stations to be interrogated and for their legal status to be checked, correspondents say. |
"We have arrested almost 4,000 people in this operation," Kenya's Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. | "We have arrested almost 4,000 people in this operation," Kenya's Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. |
"For the last few months we've had heightened insecurity. Time has come for a mop up to restore order," he added. | "For the last few months we've had heightened insecurity. Time has come for a mop up to restore order," he added. |
The operation has been condemned by some leading Kenyan MPs and religious clerics who have accused the security forces of unfairly targeting Somalis. | The operation has been condemned by some leading Kenyan MPs and religious clerics who have accused the security forces of unfairly targeting Somalis. |
Somalia's ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Shake Ali, confirmed to the BBC that 82 people had been deported. | Somalia's ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Shake Ali, confirmed to the BBC that 82 people had been deported. |
On Monday, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it had been denied access to refugees and asylum-seekers who had been arrested. | On Monday, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it had been denied access to refugees and asylum-seekers who had been arrested. |
Last month, Kenya's government ordered all Somali refugees living in towns to move into designated camps in a bid to end militant attacks. | Last month, Kenya's government ordered all Somali refugees living in towns to move into designated camps in a bid to end militant attacks. |
On 24 March six people died in an attack on a church near the port of Mombasa. | On 24 March six people died in an attack on a church near the port of Mombasa. |
In September, at least 67 people were killed after al-Shabab militants took control of the Westgate shopping mall in the capital Nairobi for four days. | In September, at least 67 people were killed after al-Shabab militants took control of the Westgate shopping mall in the capital Nairobi for four days. |
Somalia has been been hit by instability for more than two decades, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee to Kenya. |