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Washington,
December 26, 2009— The United States government which continues to
provide support to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG]
has said senior Al-Qaida members have arrived in Somalia after embarking
on a long journey from the Afghan mountains of Tora Bora.
A report from the US State Department said the Al-Qaida fugitives are
planning to re-establish itself in Somalia using insurgent groups
fighting to topple the Somali government and opposed to the presence of
foreign troops in the country as a proxy.
The report said their forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have learnt that
top Al-Qaida officials have made their way to Yemen and Somalia where
they are planning to melt into the community and carry out their global
agenda.
The report was published in US government website and has been confirmed
by Bryan G Whitman, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public
Affairs. Mr Brian said it is now inevitable that the United States would
be involved and may form and deploy a special task force in Somalia.
He reassured that the US government will continue to support the
transitional government of Somalia and other groups opposed to
Al-Shabaab and other extremists.
It is believed that Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a is one of the other group in
Somalia that receives support from the United States of America and
Ethiopia. Ahlu Sunna, a predominantly Sufi group is opposed to violence
in the name of religion and recognizes the transitional government.
Early this year, the United State has pledged 48 tones of arms to the
weak TFG led by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, however recent
reports suggested much of the arms fell into the hands of the insurgents
opposed to its policies. The US government has expressed deep concerns
about how they will continue to support Somalia’s transitional
government.
Nonetheless, the US government is now arranging new additional funds and
arms for the transitional government to combat Al-Shabaab and their
foreign operatives, whom control much of Somalia’s south.
Somalia has not had effective government since 1991 and is ideal for
militant groups looking for hideouts and training camps.
Source: Agencies, Dec 24, 2009
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