The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers has reportedly abandoned the Busaar Military Base in Somalia after 7 years.
Reports by The East African indicate that the total withdrawal from Busaar was made on Tuesday morning by the final contingent of troops likely marking the beginning of Kenyan troops withdrawal from Somalia.
"Our people spotted the troops heading towards the Somali border. They destroyed their military base before leaving," the publication quoted a source.
Photos shared by Voice of America (VOA) journalist and author of the book, Inside Al-Shabaab: The Secret History of Al-Qaeda’s Most Powerful Ally, Harun Maruf, showed the deserted base with burnt wreckage of written-off military equipment.
"Kenya troops now based in two locations in Gedo region - Geriley and ElWak," Maruf indicated.
The Busaar Military Base was an important installation serving as KDF’s command centre in the northern sector of Jubaland.
Located in Gedo region, Busaar town was liberated in the first 100 days of KDF's incursion into Somalia dubbed Operation Linda Nchi which began on October 16, 2011.
It is in the same Gedo region where KDF recorded their greatest loss in Operation Linda Nchi's history during the El Adde attack, in which an estimated 200 soldiers died.
In March 2012, Operation Linda Nchi came to end after Kenyan troops joined the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The Kenyan troops have in the past withdrawn from Bardera (September 2017), El Adde, and the forward operating bases (FOBs) in Taraka and Fafadun.
AMISOM commanders met in Mogadishu on February 16 and agreed on the execution of the mission’s new Concept of Operations (CONOPs) including the framework for implementing the AU troops’ gradual transition and final exit from Somalia.
Leaders in Somalia reportedly expressed uncertainty on whether the departure of the Kenyans could secure the region lasting peace and tranquillity or whether Al Shabaab could move in following the void.
It is common practice for troops to destroy inoperable machine and equipment at the end of a mission, presumably to prevent the technology from falling into the hands of the enemies.
Here are more photos showing the deserted Busaar Military Base.
