Somalia parliament speaker accuses Kenya of harbouring terrorists

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s parliament speaker, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, on Sunday accused Kenya of harbouring terrorists, as Mogadishu appears angry with neighbouring countries following rebel advances in Southwest state.

Nur said the federal government should ask Nairobi why Kenya continues to allow terrorists who continue to carry out violence in Somalia to remain in the country, especially in the capital Nairobi.

He was referring to Abdiasis Laftagaren, the ousted Southwest leader, and other members of his administration. Forces loyal to them recently made a lightning advance in the Bay region, retaking all major towns except Baidoa in just a few days last week.

Nur, the real link between the Turkish and Somali governments and a key defender of Turkish interests in the Horn of Africa nation, urged the authorities to act swiftly against Nairobi through diplomatic channels.

He also called on the Somali government to hold Ethiopia accountable for its troops not defending the towns recaptured by forces loyal to the former regional leader.

Mogadishu ousted Laftagaren, then president of Southwest state, in March in an offensive backed by Turkish airpower. His forces have since waged guerrilla warfare, and last week a surprise counter-offensive allowed them to retake the towns of Dinsor, Burhakabo, Awdinle, Berdale and Qansah Dhere.

The Somali federal government has so far failed to mobilise forces to retake the lost towns. Efforts to bring Ethiopian forces into the conflict on Mogadishu’s side also fell through after Addis Ababa insisted on remaining neutral, arguing that the dispute is a political power struggle outside the mandate of its peacekeepers.

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