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Somalia 'needs more AU troops' after al-Shabab pullout | Somalia 'needs more AU troops' after al-Shabab pullout |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The African Union force commander in Somalia has appealed for thousands of extra troops to secure the capital, after militant Islamists left the city. | |
Maj Gen Fred Mugisha said the militant al-Shabab group still threatened stability in Mogadishu and troops were needed to protect food aid. | |
The government has said it is offering amnesty to the group's fighters. | |
Somalia has been hit by 20 years of conflict, while a famine has gripped parts of the country since June. | |
Al-Shabab controls most of south and central Somalia, including Lower Shabelle and Bakool, the regions worst affected by the famine. | |
On Saturday, it surprised many analysts by announcing a withdrawal of its forces from Mogadishu. | On Saturday, it surprised many analysts by announcing a withdrawal of its forces from Mogadishu. |
Gen Mughisha said al-Shabab had not withdrawn completely and pockets of insurgents remained in the city. | |
"About 90%-95% of Mogadishu has been liberated, creating areas for starving people to access food," he said. | |
"But the city is not as calm as we would like it to be." | |
The BBC's Mohamed Mwalimu in Mogadishu says al-Shabab fighters launched an overnight attack in the city on two fronts. | |
However, they retreated after AU and government forces returned fire, our reporter says. | |
'Air and sea power' | |
Gen Mugisha said the AU needed an immediate deployment of 3,000 troops to bolster its 9,000-strong force and help the UN-backed government. | |
It also needed air and sea power to secure Mogadishu and the rest of Somalia before "millions perish from the famine", he said. | |
Last year, the UN Security Council approved a 12,000-strong AU force for Somalia, although the AU said it needed 20,000 troops. | |
Several African countries, including Nigeria and Malawi, have failed to fulfil promises to send troops because they fear being dragged into the long-running conflict. | |
All the current troops are from Uganda and Burundi. | |
Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, was formed in 2007 to overthrow the weak interim government and establish Islamist rule in Somalia. | |
The UN special envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said he supported the deployment of more AU troops. | |
"Both [the AU force] and government forces need to be resupplied and resupplied quickly in terms of manpower and equipment to re-establish authority in those areas [surrendered by al-Shabab]," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | "Both [the AU force] and government forces need to be resupplied and resupplied quickly in terms of manpower and equipment to re-establish authority in those areas [surrendered by al-Shabab]," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. |
Market reopening | |
Mr Mahiga said al-Shabab was likely to wage guerrilla warfare in Mogadishu, including carrying out more suicide bombings. | Mr Mahiga said al-Shabab was likely to wage guerrilla warfare in Mogadishu, including carrying out more suicide bombings. |
"It could be that a totally different military situation is being created," he said. | "It could be that a totally different military situation is being created," he said. |
Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is on a regional tour to bolster support for his government. | |
He is due to meet Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday, following a meeting on Monday with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni. | He is due to meet Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday, following a meeting on Monday with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni. |
The government held a ceremony on Tuesday in Mogadishu's commercial hub, the Bakara market, to announce that police would take over security at the market from the army. | The government held a ceremony on Tuesday in Mogadishu's commercial hub, the Bakara market, to announce that police would take over security at the market from the army. |
The government's decision shows it is confident that al-Shabab is on the retreat in Mogadishu, our reporter says. | |
The market had been heavily contested for months and many shops - which closed because of the fighting - are reopening, he says. | |
The government has promised militants that they will not be punished if they surrender. | The government has promised militants that they will not be punished if they surrender. |
"Put down your weapons and your guns, and come and join the people and your society," government spokesman Abdirahman Osman was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. | "Put down your weapons and your guns, and come and join the people and your society," government spokesman Abdirahman Osman was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. |
The UN refugee agency on Monday flew aid to drought victims in Mogadishu, its first airlift to the city for five years. | |
Some 100,000 people have arrived in the city in the last two months in search of food. | Some 100,000 people have arrived in the city in the last two months in search of food. |
Many aid agencies were banned by al-Shabab in 2009 and they fear their workers could be targetted if they return to the country. |