Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has condemned an al-Shabaab attack on a Kenyan army military base in Southern Somalia, saying the incident would not affect its peacekeeping mission in the Horn of Africa nation.
Al Shabaab fighters raided a base camp in the village of El Adde, close to the Kenya-Somalia border in the early morning hours of Friday. The al-Qaeda-linked militant group later on claimed to have killed at least 63 Kenyan soldiers.
Further information cannot be independently verified as the media’s access to the area is restricted.
In a Press statement moments after the attack, President Kenyatta admitted that soldiers died in the incident but did not verify the figures.
‘’Our gallant soldiers reacted swiftly to protect their camp; to protect their peace and stability that they are in Somalia to secure; and to protect our country from its enemies and their sympathisers.’’
He added that the attack will not affect the role of the Kenyan troops in Somalia which have been present since 2011.
‘’We will not be cowed by these cowards. With our allies, we will continue in Somalia to fulfil our mission. We will hunt down the criminals involved in today’s events. Our soldiers’ blood will not be shed in vain.’’
Kenya sent forces into Somalia in 2011 to fight the al-Qaida-inspired Islamist group, which has carried out a series of bombings and kidnappings in the region.
Horseed Media
Attack on troops won’t affect our mission in Somalia – Kenya President
Published: January 15, 2016
