|
Equipment for Ugandan peacekeeping soldiers in Somalia is being loaded onto a ship at the Mombasa port to be taken to the war-torn country, the Nation learnt yesterday.
The cargo, which includes armoured vehicles, tanks, lorries and other military hardware, will be ferried on the Mv Global Provider, chartered by the African Union.
The equipment will be used by the 1,500 Uganda forces in Somalia.
A team of Ugandan military logistics officers heading to Somalia has been at the Mombasa Port for the past one week, waiting for the arrival of the ship.
The peacekeepers, under the command of Colonel Peter Elwelu, are in Somalia and are awaiting forces from other African nations.
Somalia has not known peace since President Siad Barre was overthrown 17 years ago.
The peacekeepers enter Somalia after the ouster of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), restoring power to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
The ICU was ousted after a military attack by Ethiopia, backed by TFG forces.
The invasion was followed by US air raids at bases believed to be Al Qaeda training camps in southern Somalia.
The Ugandan forces, under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), said they had received specialised training from experts from different countries.
“Our morale is so high after the training and to most of us this is the first time that we are going on a peace keeping mission,” said an officer.
Hijacked ship
The team is expected to be in Somalia for between six to 12 months, depending on the situation.
The shipping of military equipment to Somalia takes place after the Kenyan Government started negotiations for the release of 12 crew members who were hijacked by Somali warlords two weeks ago.
The crew was on board an WFP chartered ship, the MV Rozen, which left Kenya on February 6 with 1,800 tonnes of maize, rice, vegetables and peas destined for Somalia.
The hostages include six Kenyans and six Sri Lankans.
Source: Daily Nation, Mar 12, 2007 | 