Will frontline countries participate in Somalia's Black Lion Mission against Al-Shabaab?

MOGADISHU - Somalia is entering a crucial phase in operations against Al-Shabaab militants who still dominate several parts of the country, just as soldiers plan ground and aerial offensive against the group which is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government.

A few months ago, regional leaders from Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia gathered in Uganda where they pledged to support the country in the second phase and perhaps final assault against the militants that will target Jubaland and Southwest states of the Horn of Africa nation.

Under the agreement, Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia pledged to dispatch more soldiers to the country with the aim of assisting Somalia in overcoming the militants. The soldiers, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said, would stay in the country for a period of three months under the command of the Somali army.

The soldiers are supposed to give reinforcement to those from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], the Somali National Army [SNA], and the US Africa Command. However, there are scanty details about their whereabouts in Somalia, over five months after the announcement.

In an interview with the Dossier, a program in the Voice of America, Somalia's army chief suggested that he was unsure if the frontline countries would participate in the planned military operations against al-Shabaab despite earlier commitment.

Major General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhudin told The Dossier in his first interview since his appointment that it doesn’t appear to him that troops from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti will participate in the second phase of “Operation Black Lion” - given their preparations.

However, a senior Kenya defense official who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity said their position has not changed. “From our perspective, we are still committed to Operation Black Lion," the official said in confidence given the protocols dictated by the military in East African nation.

Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia already have soldiers participating in the ATMIS programme but there are concerns for deployment of more troops to assist in the second phase of operations. The second phase has been delayed as the national army diverts its focus on combing HirShabelle and Galmadug states.

The Al-Shabaab militants have been waging sporadic retaliatory attacks against innocent civilians and security forces across the country but commitment from the army has put them at bay in most cases. Somalia anticipates that Al-Shabaab will be defeated in due course.

GAROWE ONLINE