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AMISOM Troop Redeployments Not Due to Insurgent Attacks

   Peter Clottey 06 September 2010
   Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, currently the President of Somalia's Transitional
   Federal Government

Photo: AP

   Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, currently the President of Somalia's Transitional
   Federal  Government  talks during a news conference in central London,
   Tuesday  March  9,  2010. Sheikh Ahmed, who was one of the most senior
   leaders  of  the  Islamic  Courts  Union  (ICU),  a hard-line Islamist
   militia  movement  in  Somalia is currently in Britain seeking support
   for his government. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

   The  spokesman  for  the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has
   denied  reports that stepped-up attacks by hard-line insurgents forced
   peacekeeping  troops  to  move  to  new  positions  across  the Somali
   capital, Mogadishu.

   Major  Barigye  Ba-Huko said AMISOM started the redeployments early in
   the  year  as part of its mandate to help President Sheik Sharif Sheik
   Ahmedâs Transitional Federal Government against the insurgents.

   âItâs a process that troops allowing (are) going to continue. But, for
   now,  suffice  it to say that we have got at least one new position in
   the  southwest, two (or) three new positions in the center of the city
   and another three in the northeast and north of the city,â he said.

   The   hard-line  insurgents,  including  Al-Shabab,  have  refused  to
   recognize the transitional administration and vowed to overthrow it.

   Last  month,  the  insurgents  launched  several  attacks  against the
   presidential  palace  and demanded President Sharif stepped down. They
   were repelled by AMISOM and government troops.

   AMISOM spokesman, Major Barigye Ba-Huko

   The  insurgents have intensified their attacks during the Islamic holy
   month  of Ramadan. But, AMISOM spokesman Ba-Huko said the peacekeeping
   troops will continue taking up new positions in the capital, Mogadishu
   despite increased insurgent attacks.

   âThe  significance  of this movement has absolutely nothing to do with
   being  squeezed  by  any extremist group here. But, rather, that it is
   part of our mandate. That mandate talks about stabilizing the whole of
   Somalia,  not  stabilizing just the airports or the seaports,â Ba-Huko
   said.

   He  also  said  AMISOMâs  effort of fully implementing its mandate has
   been  hampered  by  the âshortageâ of troops. He praised the pledge by
   African  heads  of  state  and  government  of increasing peacekeeping
   troops levels in Somalia.

   Analysts  say  the  presence of foreign troops has been a rallying cry
   for  insurgents  who  have  been recruiting young Somalis to fight the
   government as well as AMISOM troops.

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