Operation Linda Nchi

Operation Linda Nchi
Part of the Somali Civil War (2009–present) and the Somali–Kenyan conflict
Date16 October 2011 – 31 May 2012
(7 months, 2 weeks and 1 day)
Location
Result Operational success
Territorial
changes
Capture of Qoqani,[5] Kolbio,[6] Fafadun,[7] Elade,[8] Hosingo,[9] Badhadhe[10] Afmadow,[11] Tabda,[12] Ras Kamboni,[13] Burgabo,[14] Busar,[12] Hayo[12]
Belligerents
 Kenya[1]
Somalia TFG[1]
Raskamboni Front[2]
ASWJ[3]
Azania[4]
Al-Shabaab
Commanders and leaders

Kenya Julius Karangi[15]
Kenya Leonard Ngondi[16]
Kenya Mohamed Yusuf Haji[17]
Somalia Hussein Arab Isse[17]

Ahmed Madobe[2][18][19][20][21]

Ibrahim al-Afghani[22][23]
Mukhtar Robow[24]
Hassan Turki[25][26]

Sheikh Aweys[27]
Strength
Kenya: More than 6,000 security personnel at peak, including police[28] Al-Shabaab: Total size of 3,000 "hard-core fighters", 2,000 "allied militants" at end of 2012[29]
Casualties and losses

Total: 21–72 killed, 152 injured


67 allied forces killed[nb 1][30]


One Harbin Z-9 destroyed (mechanical failure)[37]

One patrol boat damaged.[38]
Total: 700 militants killed,[32] 61 captured[nb 2][30][39]

20 civilians killed (Somalia)[39][40][41][42]

30 civilians killed,[43]
6 policemen killed and 17 security forces injured (Kenya)[30][44][45]

Operation Linda Nchi (Swahili: Linda Nchi; "Protect the Country") was the Kenya Defence Forces' invasion of southern Somalia beginning in 2011.[4][46] The Kenyan government declared the operation completed in March 2012, but its forces then joined AMISOM in Somalia.[47][48][49]

The Kenyan government aimed to create a buffer zone between Al-Shabaab and instability in southern Somalia, and the Kenyan homeland.[50][51] However, at a deeper level, the Kenyans desired "to be seen as a reliable partner in the U.S.-led 'global war on terrorism', there were institutional interests within the KDF, and key political elites within the Kenyan government, notably Minister for Internal Security George Saitoti, the Defence Minister Yusuf Haji and several senior security chiefs, advocated for intervention to advance their own economic and political interests."[4]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Jointc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Former Alshabaab, Ras Kamboni leader talks to Kenyan Media[usurped]. Bartamaha.com (13 November 2011).
  3. ^ a b Heavy Fighting in Southern Somalia Archived 12 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. SomaliaReport.
  4. ^ a b c "The Kenyan Military Intervention in Somalia" (PDF). International Crisis Group. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Kenya: Army Hit Somali Terror Base". allAfrica.com. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shkfts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Kenya-Somalia: Kenyan troops on the march in Somalia". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  8. ^ Kenya push al-Shabaab from two towns Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. News24 (6 January 2012).
  9. ^ "NEXUS on Twitter" – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "NEXUS on Twitter" – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Kenyan, Somali troops capture Afmadow:rebels".[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b c "KDF capture major areas in Somalia". The Standard.
  13. ^ "Kenyan forces capture Shabaab's Ras Kamboni". 3 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Kenya:A Big Salute to KDF".
  15. ^ Kenya military chief suggests Somalia incursion could be long . Los Angeles Times. (30 October 2011).
  16. ^ Leftie, Peter. (5 November 2011) The General Tasked With Wiping Out Al-Shabaab Archived 7 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Allafrica.com.
  17. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Spsoaki was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Lough, Richard. (16 August 2011) Kenya looks to Somali troops, militia to create border buffer Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters.
  19. ^ Al shabab, Raskamboni claim victory over fighting[usurped]. Shabelle.net.
  20. ^ "Kenya's Political Failure in Southern Somalia". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  21. ^ Kenya troops aim to carve 'buffer zone' out of Somalia Archived 20 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Global Post. (15 November 2011).
  22. ^ Who are al-Shabab? Archived 16 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera.
  23. ^ Murky world of Somalia's Islamist insurgents Archived 10 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian.
  24. ^ Somali rebel urges attacks on Kenya Archived 6 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. News24.com (27 October 2011).
  25. ^ Kenyan troops 100km inside Somalia Archived 20 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Capital Radio.co.ke (17 October 2011).
  26. ^ Al-Shabaab threaten reprisals as Kenyan troops push into rebel-held Somalia Archived 27 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Al Arabiya.net (17 October 2011).
  27. ^ Eritrea rejects Kenyan al-Shabab arms claims Archived 18 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera.
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference Anderson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ Swedberg, Jeffrey; Reisman, Lainie (22 February 2013). "Mid-Term Evaluation of Three Countering Violent Extremism Projects" (PDF). USAID. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  30. ^ a b c d e Timeline: Operation Linda Nchi Archived 27 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Critical Threats (9 March 2012).
  31. ^ Wabala, Dominic. (9 December 2011) Kenya: 128 TFG Soldiers Injured So Far in Somalia Battle Archived 26 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. allAfrica.com.
  32. ^ a b "KDF: We have killed 700 militants". Daily Nation. 7 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  33. ^ "World news". The Guardian. London. 23 January 2008.
  34. ^ Shabelle Media Network[usurped]. Shabelle.net. "usurped title". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. ^ Shabelle Media Network[usurped]. Shabelle.net.
  36. ^ Shabelle Media Network[usurped]. Shabelle.net.
  37. ^ Five Kenyan soldiers killed in helicopter crash Archived 3 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. DefenceWeb.
  38. ^ Rain halts Kenyan troops in Somalia | Capital News Archived 22 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Capital Radio.co.ke (20 October 2011).
  39. ^ a b "Kenyan troops 'kill 60 al-Shabab fighters' in Somalia". BBC News. 7 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  40. ^ Kenya : Les forces engagées dans les opérations militaires en Somalie doivent respecter les lois de la guerre | Human Rights Watch Archived 25 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Human Rights Watch.
  41. ^ [1][dead link]
  42. ^ "Kenya: Investigate Bombing of Somali Village". hrw.org. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  43. ^ Garowe Online Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Garowe Online (19 February 2012).
  44. ^ "Kenyan official says 9 troops wounded by land-mine near border with Somalia".[dead link]
  45. ^ Shabelle Media Network | | Shabakada Warbaahinta Shabelle |[usurped]. Shabelle.net.
  46. ^ Kron, Josh; Gettleman, Jeffrey (23 October 2011). "Other Nations Join Somalia Fight, Kenya Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  47. ^ Cite error: The named reference gathara was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  48. ^ Cite error: The named reference rajab was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  49. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyamori was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  50. ^ "Kenyan troops pursue al-Shabab into Somalia in Operation Linda Nchi". Al Jazeera. 16 October 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  51. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rémy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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