AMISOM’s Operation Indian Ocean is the final assault on remaining Al-Qaeda allied terror militant’s bases and strategic assets along the coast of Somalia.
The principal objective of the operation is the port of Barawe, the headquarters of the Al-Shabaab leadership.
Barawe houses the top leaders of the terror group. It also serves as the logistics, intelligence, and foreign militia operative’s main base.
The port is a strategic base, serving as the only gateway for smuggled arms from Yemen and the illegal arms markets.
Barawe replaced Kismayu. It is an economic lifeline of the Al-Shabaab. Export of charcoal is done through this port. The illegal export of charcoal earns Al-Shabaab about $$27 million annually.
The revenue is used to pay the militants, buy arms, and facilitate terror operations across east Africa.
Capture of Barawe
The capture of the port of Barawe will decrease Al-Shabaabs military capability and deplete the morale of fighters.
The 5000 militant troops are already straining. There are divisions in the mid-level ranks of the command.
Intelligence confirms senior leaders are in the process of forming new alliances with clan militia and would facilitate the orchestration of infighting within the militant’s factions.
The fall of Barawe would speed up the process of infighting and subsequent political annexation of the terror outfit.
Loss of the strategic bases across the Indian Ocean will be indicative of loss of economics besides stifle inflow of foreign fighters and arms supplies to the militants.
The outcome of the fall of Barawe depicts the possible operational capability failure of the militants.
Operation Indian Ocean aims at just that, degrading the operational capability of the outfit besides destroy its political wing socio-political influence in Somalia.
