The Africa Union Peacekeeping Missionin Somalia (AMISOM) has sharply denied backing government troops fighting hard line insurgents. Media reports Sunday suggested thatAMISOM troops reinforced government forces in a raging fight against Islamistinsurgents.
Some political observers said AMISOM would have flouted its ownmandate if it were involved in active combat.
But AMISOM denied any involvementin the fighting between government troops and hard line Islamic insurgents.
Major Barigye Ba-Huko is the spokesman for AMISOM. He told VOA that AMISOM troop
"Thoseare reports that have been created by opposition forces to attack ourpositions. What has happened is that AMISOM pre-empted and tried to do what itshould to ensure that the safety of troops and the safety of supply routes areguaranteed," Ba-Huko said.
Hesaid AMISOM wanted to ensure its troops and supply routes were protected.
"Theforce commander made a statement to the effect that there was a limit and therewas a red line. And that any person, any force crossing that red line wouldobviously be engaged," he said.
Ba-Hukosaid AMISOM acted to prevent insurgents from taking over areas under itsprotection.
"We did a show of force, oneto guarantee that the routes are open and two to ensure that the safety of oursoldiers is in place. That is what people have misconstrued to mean that we areengaged in active combat," Ba-Huko said.
He denied allegations AMISOMviolated the African Union mandate by allegedly fighting alongside Somaligovernment troops.
"We've not in any wayviolated our mandate. In fact, it is known that we are supposed in the whole ofSomalia. So, there is nothing absolutely wrong in AMISOM being any part inMogadishu," he said.
Ba-Huko said the AMISOMtroop presence in different areas of Somalia was misconstrued.
"What possibly people aretalking about is that for the first time our troops have moved to certain areaswhere maybe we have never been seen before?that is what people say that we aregetting actively involved in the battle," Ba-Huko said.
Meanwhile, Somali insurgentswere believed to be closing in on the presidential palace in the capital,Mogadishu in Sunday's raging fight that has reportedly left dozens dead.