Afronline – The Voice Of Africa

Nairobi – Militiamen belonging to Somalia’s Islamist group Al-Shabab have killed at least six people across the border in Kenya in reprisal attacks against the country’s military incursion in Somalia.

Six people including four police officers, a local government official and a civilian were killed and three others kidnapped during the firearm and an explosive device attack in northeast Kenya’s Gerille town, 10km from its border with Somalia.

“Six people have been killed, and three others were abducted, in the attack on Wednesday, wounding two other policemen,” said regional police Chief Leo Nyongesa.

Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack which they said was in revenge for “the aggressive Kenyan invasion against the Muslims of Somalia.”

In a statement, the Al-Qaeda linked group say to have killed seven Kenyan policemen and government officials, taking others prisoners. They also claim to have seized vehicles, communication equipment and weapons during the raid.

The group has been blamed for series of grenade and homemade explosives attacks in Kenya since the Kenyan Defence Forces launched an operation three months ago to pursue Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia.

Elsewhere the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned of abuses of civilians and refugees of Somali descent by Kenyan security forces since the launch of the military operation. A statement by the New York-based rights group said members of the security forces have been responsible for rape, beatings, looting, and arbitrary arrests of civilians, in response to apparent attacks targeting security forces.

“When military officers can beat civilians in broad daylight without fearing repercussions, it’s clear that impunity has become the norm,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at HRW. The military through its spokesman has refuted having knowledge of the abuses but said it will investigate the claims.

The UN Security Council has approved a joint request by Kenya and the African Union (AU) to integrate Kenyan troops into the AU mission in Somalia-AMISOM. The Amisom deployment is expected to increase from 12,000 to 17,731 under the proposal, which also entails additional troops from Djibouti, Uganda and Burundi.

Formed in 2007 the Al-Shabab continues to fight the fragile Transitional Federal Government (TFG), taking control of regions in the south, where it instils harsh Islamic laws. Somalia has never had a stable government since ousting of dictatorial leader Siad Barre in 1991.

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