I was misquoted on El Adde KDF deaths Somalia president

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has stated that he was misquoted on the number of KDF soldiers killed in El Adde.

In an interview with a Somali state television station on Thursday, President Mohamud was quoted saying that between 180 to 200 Kenyan soldiers were killed when Al Shabaab attacked their camp at El Adde, Somalia in mid-January.

In a statement on Sunday, President Mohamud stated that the number stated during the interview were not meant to be the actual number of deaths, saying the Head of State was describing the size of the camp and number of soldiers though to be present in the camp during the terrorist attack.

“President Mohamed was among the leaders who paid tribute and joined Kenyans during the memorial service for the fallen brave Kenyan soldiers held in Eldoret in January.”

“In the interview with the Somali TV, the president was defending his decision to join Kenyans in the memorial service for the Kenyan heroes,” read the statement.

President Mohamud’s pronouncement may have sparked a probable diplomatic row between Kenya and Somalia with his clarification coming just hours before a Head of State summit on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) held in Djibouti.

The Kenyan government has, since the attack, remained mum on the exact number of soldiers terming it a matter of national security.

Earlier, reports had said that the Kenya Defence Forces camp had a company of not more than 120 soldiers.

Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Samson Mwathethe said KDF had embarked on a search, rescue and recovery operation immediately after the attack but noted that it was a delicate operation.

Meanwhile, CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka has called on the government to reveal the exact number of KDF soldiers killed in El Adde.

Kalonzo further called on the government to put in place a comprehensive strategic plan for the withdrawal of soldiers from Somalia, saying key focus should be in protecting Kenyan borders.

@benjaminwafula