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| Africa Horn |
| Uganda to deploy hundreds of extra troops to Somalia |
| 2014-03-03 |
| Uganda is set to deploy as many as 410 extra troops to Somalia to guard United Nations facilities there after a surge in attacks by al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabab militants in the war-torn Horn of Africa nation, the Ugandan military said Sunday. Military spokesman, Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda said the guard unit will bolster the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia, known as Amisom with the “extra strength” required to restore order in the chaotic port city of Mogadishu. The deployment comes just a few days after a car bomb exploded outside the headquarters of Somalia’s intelligence agency in Mogadishu, killing at least 12 people, the third deadly attack to hit the capital in as many weeks. “The U.N. guard unit will free the bulk of Amisom forces from escort duties to pursue al Shabab in their hide-outs,” Lt. Col. Ankunda said. “This force is the first of its kind under Amisom.” Following last week’s attack, the U.N. Security Council said it would “continue to support all international efforts” aimed at ending the threat posed by al-Shabaab. Uganda already has as many as 6,000 troops in Somalia, leading the African Union force, which is helping Somalia’s weak national army in operations against the militants. Al Shabab militants were flushed out of Mogadishu in 2011 but continue to hunker down in much of the countryside, posing a security challenge for the country. Somalia hasn’t had an effective central government since |
| Posted by:Steve White |