After Kenyan Navy Shells Somalia, Lamamra Says Kenya IS Part of AMISOM
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 27, 2012 -- For weeks as the Kenyan Navy has
shelled the Somali town of Kismayo, resulting even back in mid August in the
death of civilians, Inner City Press has asked the UN what safeguards are in
place
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/As%20Kenya%20Navy%20Shells%20Somalia,%20UN%20
Whispered%20Concern%203%20Weeks%20Ago> .
The answer, belatedly from the UN Spokesperson's Office and then from UK's
Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, was that the AMISON mission
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/UK%20Says%20AMISOM%20Complies%20With%20Rights
,%20But%20Kenya%20Navy%20Not%20Part%20of%20AMISOM> "does not have a naval
component," and that Kenya's navy is not part of AMISOM.
Earlier in the week, this and a question about Kenya's ground forces killing
six civilians outside Kismayo were referred by the UN Spokesperson to envoy
Augustine Mahiga's press conference later that day. But Mahiga canceled that
press conference.
Finally on Wednesday Mahiga appeared at a stakeout after a mini-summit on
Somalia, along with UN top politico Jeffrey Feltman, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali,
Prime Minister of Somalia, and Ramtane Lamamra, African Union Commissioner
for Peace and Security. Inner City Press posed the question, explicitly
about the shelling by Kenya's Navy.
The AU's Lamamra insisted that "Kenya is part of AMISOM." But again -- not
the Navy, which was asked about. On land forces killing civilians, Abdiweli
Mohamed Ali to his credit said he had spoken with the Kenyan defense forces.
He also told Inner City Press that Puntland is part of the process, and he
hopes to convince Somaliland to join. It was not possible to ask Lamamra a
follow up on this, at least not on Wednesday evening. Watch this site.
Received on Thu Sep 27 2012 - 20:45:47 EDT
