Kenyan military renovates Somalia airstrip ahead of operation against Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Kenya Defence Forces [KDF] contingent serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] has started renovating Dhobley Airstrip, an important landing site for planes beth for soldiers and humanitarian teams in Western Somalia, within Lower Jubba.

KDF's decision to renovations the airstrip comes just days after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab will be activated in Jubbaland and Southwest states where the Kenyan troops are actively involved.

The KDF Engineers have expanded the width of the airstrip, cleared heaps of sand, and reinforced the grounds by filling up and compacting it. The KDF troops also cleared up shrubs on and along the Airstrip to make it easier for the landing of planes and other aircraft.

Within Somalia, air transport is the most preferred due to insecurity posed by Al-Shabaab and dilapidated road infrastructure across the country. Dhobley is the headquarters of Sector II of the ATMIS troops and serves a wider area within Western Somalia according to the mission troops..

“This renovation of the Dhobley airstrip is important to restoring the transportation of people and goods for this important region. It will ensure a safe and efficient travel. It will contribute to and improve socio-economic development which will impact positively local communities.

"It will also foster peace and stability in the region,” said the ATMIS Sector Two Commander, Brigadier William Kamoiro, who commissioned the renovated airstrip, while acknowledging the importance of the facility to boosting safety in the Horn of Africa nation.

Flights have since resumed on the airstrip, a significant boost to trading activities in Dhobley and neighbouring towns. The Jubbaland state under Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe also participated in the expansion and renovation of the airstrip.

Sector II troops and those in Sector VI are expected to assist the Somali National Army [SNA] in flushing Al-Shabaab militants from the region. During the first phase, the Al-Shabaab suffered immense losses according to the government of Somalia, which claimed to have liberated many towns.

GAROWE ONLINE