- It was the first such trip to Somalia for Gen Ogolla as the CDF.
- He last visited the area last December as the Vice Chief of Defence Forces.
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Francis Ogolla at the weekend visited Kenyan troops in Somalia as part of a morale boost ahead of a major planned operation against the al Shabaab terror group.
He also held talks with Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe, which officials said was to ensure the planned operation on the terror group succeeds.
Al Shabaab's major bases are in the Gedo region where they recently staged a show of their troops.
It was the first such trip to Somalia for Gen Ogolla as the CDF.
He last visited the area last December as the Vice Chief of Defence Forces.
This also comes ahead of the planned withdrawal of regional troops from Somalia amid increased attacks by the al Shabaab terrorists.
It was the latest such visit to the area as the troops continue to push back a resurgent al-Shabaab gang.
Kenyan troops are in Somalia under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to help fight the al-Shabaab terror group. KDF went to Somalia in October 2011.
There are plans to withdraw the troops from the area and let Somalia take over.
President William Ruto has indicated KDF may stay there longer beyond the drawdown timetable.
Ruto said the frontline states- Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia- have decided to stay on the course beyond the set timelines so that they don’t lose the gains made so far.
“We have decided as the frontline states- Uganda, Kenya, Sudan- that we are going to stay on this course and if necessary and we think it is necessary we are going to stay beyond the drawdown timetable so that we don’t lose what we have achieved merely because we have walked away from a situation and allowed al Shabaab back into the equation or into the theatre.”
“ We are very clear and we are going to send a compelling message to al Shabaab that they are not going to reverse the gains that we have made in the last couple of years,” he said.
He said the al Shabaab terror group is trying to reposition itself after the start of the withdrawal of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops to create the impression that they will take over the region.
Ruto made the remarks in an interview with France 24 and vowed they will confront the terror group.
The terror group has increased attacks in Kenya in a renewed trend that has left more than 30 people dead in the past month alone near the Kenya-Somalia border.
“The challenge of al Shabaab we have to confront it. We intend and have every chance to defeat al Shabaab,” said Ruto.
Similar attacks are on the rise in Somalia.
Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.
ATMIS has started the drawdown of troops amid fears the terror group may take over some of the vacated places.
The drawdown of 2,000 troops in compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions has seen major Forward Operating Bases (FOB) including that of KDF handed over to the Somalia National Army.
The resolution mandates ATMIS to draw down 2000 soldiers by the end of June 2023. This has raised fears amid increased attacks by terrorists in the areas.
The ATMIS is also expected to withdraw another 3,000 soldiers by September in compliance with the UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670, which mandate the ATMIS to hand over security responsibilities in agreed areas to Somali security forces.
ATMIS mandate was extended to December 31, 2023.