NAIROBI — Kenyan air forces continue to carry out series of airstrikes, targeting telecommunication masts and infrastructure owned by Hormuud, Somalia’s largest telecommunications service provider.
The long-running bombings campaign, often conducted in areas along the Kenya-Somalia border and within Somali territories, have heightened tensions between the neighboring nations and sparked concerns over security and diplomatic relations.
Reports suggest that Kenyan fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched several precision strikes on selected telecommunication installations in recent months, causing significant damages and in some instances human causalities.
The devastating attacks by the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF), have raised concerns about the potential impact on communication capabilities, the operations of the humanitarian organizations and the livelihoods of Somalis living in the affected regions who heavily rely on telecommunication services for their daily activities.
The recent escalation of the targeted destruction, largely targeting telecom masts has seen a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of Kenyan airstrikes on the Hormuud’s Infrastructure.
While the exact reasons behind the Kenyan military’s decision to target Hormuud’s infrastructure remains unknown, observers have speculated on potential factors such as intelligence reports of Al-Shabab using the network for coordination, or a response to alleged cross-border attacks originating from Somalia.
However, critics argue that the nature of the attacks and the extensive damage Inflicted on the civilian infrastructure goes beyond the stated objectives.
In the densely populated Gedo region, where basic services were already strained, the destruction of telecom infrastructure has compounded the difficulties faced by the residents.
Vital communication channels, including mobile networks and internet services, have been severely disrupted, hindering emergency response efforts, limiting access to healthcare, and impeding educational activities.
The long-term consequences of the deliberate targeting of communication masts are anticipated to have a lasting impact on the region’s socio-economic development.
In 2018, a United Nations report corroborated evidence of attacks allegedly carried out by Kenya’s military on communication masts belonging to Somalia’s largest telecom provider, resulting in the death of two civilians.
The report by U.N Panel of Experts also highlighted that destroying telecommunication masts could prevent al-Shabab extremists from triggering explosives using mobile telephone signals.
In response to the ongoing attacks targeting its masts, Hormuud Telecom Ssaid that the attacks violate international law. The company asserts that its communications masts have been routinely attacked by Kenya’s military over the past few years.
The destruction of telecom infrastructure may be aimed at curtailing the transmission of intelligence on troop movements or extremist operations, Hormuud said.
The human rights organizations have condemned Kenya’s actions, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on civilian infrastructure and the collective punishment inflicted on the civilians.
They insisted that the destruction of telecom masts amounts to a violation of international humanitarian law, which requires parties to the conflict to distinguish between military targets and civilian infrastructure.
Kenya’s active military involvement in Somalia began in 2011 when it launched a military operation against the extremist group Al-Shabab. The East African nation has justified its military intervention as a necessary response to spate of cross-border attacks carried out by the al-Shabab extremist group to safeguard its national security and protect its citizens from the threat of terrorism originating from Somalia.
But, the Kenyan government has yet to issue an official response regarding the attacks on Hormuud’s infrastructure. However, according to the company’s officials, the cumulative impact of these airstrikes has caused tens of millions of dollars in losses for the telecom giant.
Hormuud, which boasts the largest market share in the Somali telecommunications sector has condemned the Kenyan military’s actions and expressed deep concern over the continuous destruction of its infrastructure.
The Somali government, has repeatedly condemned the bombings by Kenya as a violation of its sovereignty and has accused Kenya of exploiting the country’s fragile security and governance situations.
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