22 March 2002
The possibility of an American and British military strike against alleged terrorist bases in Somalia grew closer yesterday after it was revealed that US soldiers had discovered a possible link between Islamic fundamentalists in Somalia and Al Qaeda.
US soldiers searching for Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters in the caves in the Afghan mountains are reported to have discovered a satellite positioning device that is said to have belonged to a US commando killed in Somalia in 1993.
American defence officials say that the global positioning receiver found in a freezing cave in the east of the country may well be able to confirm that it was Mr bin Laden's Al Qaeda network that masterminded the deaths of 18 US special forces in a vicious firefight in Mogadishu in 1993.
Brigadier John Rosa of the US Air Force told reporters that the latest evidence "could obviously tie Al Qaeda to Somalia".
If that can be proven to be the case then a strike against Somalia could become more likely.
Earlier this week, the US top military commander said that a
military strike against Somalia in the near future could not be ruled out.
Following a four-nation tour to Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti, General Tommy Franks told the BBC he had had wide-ranging discussions with the governments in Nairobi, Asmara and Addis Ababa about US concerns over the alleged terrorist threat from Somalia.
These talks included a possible role for the "frontline" eastern African states in any possible military action in Somalia, Gen Franks said.
"The relationships that we have with Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti are very strong," the US commander said. "These states are very much part of this coalition and so it is not unusual that in co-operation with these states we would pay attention to areas where we believe there may be a problem."
Gen Franks is head of the US military's central command and was commander of the war in Afghanistan. While it is not clear what role Kenya is asked to be playing by the US and the UK following the initial talks between British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and President Moi last December, the BBC report said that Ethiopia would "hope to play a significant role, similar to that of Pakistan in the war in Afghanistan" should the attacks on Somalia go ahead.
The commander said that intelligence sources had "known of links to Al Qaeda in and through Somalia for a considerable period of time". He did not elaborate.
"We are concerned about the situation in Somalia and we will not take off the table the possibility of action," Gen Franks said. "We are going to continue to keep our options open and continue to conduct dialogue with the frontline nations such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti."
The commander's East African visit was aimed at discussing
the global war against terrorism and other issues of security
co-operation - such as training, sharing of intelligence
information and ongoing security assistance efforts.
He said: "I have talked to the frontline states in the region about them sending liaison elements to the Central Command headquarters in Tampa. Each of the countries is interested to do that, so I suspect that we will build our presence by up to five countries in the very near future."
American warships are already stationed off the coast of Somalia and British, US and German spy plans have been seen in Kenya in recent months.
Another British naval ship is expected in Mombasa next month. But British High Commission officials have declined to give details about the ship, its passengers and the purpose of the visit. They said a Press conference would be held on board the ship on April 1.
"There will be no advance information about the ship, but a Press conference will be held on board on April 1," said Ms Stella Ondimu of the High Commission's Press section on telephone yesterday.
The arrival of HMS Campbeltown will coincide with the daily aerial surveillance over the Indian Ocean waters off the Horn of Africa by German navy spy planes, which are flying out of Mombasa.
Several British navy ships, including a submarine and an aircraft carrier, have called in Mombasa since December on what was described as relaxation for the sailors.
Currently, 160 German navy officers and men are camped in Mombasa, from where they are carrying out daily spy missions over the Indian Ocean waters off the Horn of Africa as part of the war against terror.
They have so far flown three long-range propeller aircraft since Tuesday. But Information Officer Knut Hut declined to give details.
"This kind of information is passed directly to our headquarters in Germany and therefore I cannot disclose it for security reasons," he said on telephone.
The forces are operating with three French-made Breguet Atlantique aircraft fitted with sophisticated equipment to monitor and identify ships several hundred metres below.
Commander Huk said that they fly one aircraft for ten hours per day "because of the tremendous amount of time that goes into preparations before the aircraft flies."
"Our men are literally working around the clock everyday to prepare the planes before they fly out and that is why we only carry out one flight per day," he said adding that they will be resting for two days after undertaking three missions.
Code-named "Operation Enjoy Freedom" it is expected to continue until June when it will be reviewed.
Additional reporting by Edmund Kwena
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