KDF commander visits troops in Somalia ahead of planned exit

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A senior Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] commander visited troops serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] on Monday, amid ongoing plans to have the soldiers withdrawn from the Horn of Africa nation which has been struggling with insecurity for decades.

Lt. General Walter Koipaton, who is the current Kenya Army Commander, held a series of meetings with a section of troops serving in the war-torn nation during his second visit in as many months after his elevation to the lucrative post, which is the senior-most after that of KDF chief and Vice Chief of Defense Forces.

During his trip, the KDF commander commissioned a rainwater harvesting project in Burgavo which was implemented by the Kenya Army. The project is located within the volatile Lower Jubba within Sector II of AMISOM under Brig. Paul Njema.

According to the KDF, the project "will provide clean water to the troops and communities in the surrounding area". Despite being in an arid location, Somalia often received long rains and at times, they cause catastrophes such as deadly floods which besides killing, displace thousands annually.

After the commissioning of the project, KDF added, the senior commander visited various Forward Operating Bases [FOBs] where he interacted soldiers. Some of those he visited include Bilis Qooqani and Dhobley, where Sector II headquarters are located.

"He commended them for their diligence to serve," KDF said in a statement. The Kenyan soldiers serving in the AMISOM are stationed at Sector II and VI mainly within the Jubaland state, which they use as a buffer zone in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, who have been causing mayhem since 2008 across East Africa.

"His visit underscored the significance of KDF operating under AMISOM and the critical role KDF soldiers play in ensuring sustainable peace is achieved in Somalia," added KDF in a statement that was released on Wednesday by spokesperson Col. Zipporah Kioko.

His trip comes amid ongoing plans to withdraw the troops from Somalia. Under the Somali Transition Plan [STP], it is anticipated that AMISOM will withdraw from the fragile nation in 2021, after the country goes for elections, and the African forces are expected to hand over security responsibilities to the Somali National Army [SNA].

With Lt. Gen Kaipaton sitting at the National Defense Council, he's expected to steer the process in the coming months. There are close to 3,500 KDF troops serving in Somalia after being incorporated into AMISOM forces in 2012, months after invading the country under Operation Linda Nchi.

The trip also comes three months after the new Chief of Defense Forces General Robert Kibochi visited the Horn of Africa nation. Kibochi, who served as Army Commander and VCDF before his elevation in May, promised to continue helping the troops as part of protecting Kenya's "territorial integrity".

Since its deployment in Somalia, KDF has managed to liberate a host of strategic towns within Lower and Middle Juba regions. Key among them include Kismayo, which at one time was used as the main commercial center for the Al-Shabaab militants and the strategic Dhobley town near the border.

The troops have also suffered casualties particularly the unprecedented deadly raids in El-Adde and Kulbiyow army bases about four years ago. Gen. Kibochi had hinted that once the army is withdrawn from Somalia, most of the troops will be stationed along the porous Kenya-Somalia border for the purpose of improving security.

GAROWE ONLINE