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Uganda to deploy military aircrafts in Somalia to battle Al-Shaabab

Xinhua, July 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Ugandan military will deploy its military aircrafts in Somalia to reinforce African Union (AU) mission operations against Al-Shaabab militants, a spokesperson said Friday.

Maj. Kiconco Tabaro, Uganda's air force spokesperson told Xinhua in an interview at the Air Base, 40 km south of the capital Kampala that the military aircrafts, which are believed to be mainly helicopters will help in capturing more places from Al- Shabaab, ease troop mobility, medical and causality evacuations.

"The AU has been negotiating with us on the deployment of our military aircrafts and assets in Somalia. We have agreed on the modalities and we shall deploy them soon," said Tabaro.

"As you know our troops are too far from each other in Somalia. Our line of communication and movement has been difficult. These assets are necessary and will easy our personnel mobility, logistics, medical and causality evacuation," he added.

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, Uganda's military spokesperson told Xinhua by telephone that the aircrafts are needed to help in the combat operations against the militants who have heightened their attacks against military and civilian population in the capital Mogadishu and other areas.

"We have reached a point of no return. We have been lacking the needed air support in the fight against the Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia," said Ankunda.

"It's a big boost in our operations and resolve to bring peace and stability in Somalia. We are committed to liberating our Somali people," he added.

The planned move to deploy the air force assets comes barely two days after Smail Chergui, African Union Commissioner for peace and security on Wednesday announced on the sidelines of eastern African intelligence and security chiefs meeting in the capital, Kampala that the AU was negotiating with Uganda to deploy its military helicopters in Somalia, under African Union Mission in Somalia.

Uganda had planned to deploy military helicopters in the Horn of African country in 2012. However in August 2012, three of its attack helicopters crashed in neighboring Kenya while on transit to Somalia, killing seven crew members.

The U.S. government in March this year donated two Cessna 208B aircrafts to Ugandan military for its counterterrorism and security operations in the Horn of African country.

The aircrafts were aimed at enhancing the capacity of Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) to provide mobility, reconnaissance and evacuation in its operations under the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Uganda provides the biggest number of peacekeeping troops in the recuperating the Horn of African country. The military has deployed its troops since 2007. Endi