#AlShabaab’s media wing Al kataib latest release; “A video message, from one of the kenyan prisoners”

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Brief

Harakat Al shabaab Al Mujahideen mounted a brazen cross border raid into Kenya on the 12^th January 2012 , HSM fighters managed to burn down a police post in Gerille town in Wajir district, killing 7 police officers also seizing 2 kenyan officials, vehicles, communication equipment and a cache of weapons according to a statement released by the group.

Today HSM released video of a desperate appeal, by Mule Edward Yesse, who worked as Government District Officer (DO) for Burderi at the time of his detainment by the group, now, HSM are threatening to execute the pair if Kenyan forces do not pull out.

HSM threatened on their twitter account;

The fate of #Kenyan PoWs is in the hands of Kenyan population. Either heed their calls or send them to the guillotine - The choice is YOURS!
—
HSM Press Office (@HSMPress) February 23, 2012

Military Pressure

Territories under the control of HSM have been coming increasingly under pressure, from a multi pronged assault by neighbouring Kenya, Ethiopia and internationally supported AMISOM.

In the run up to the Somalia conference held in London, Ethiopians more than their Kenyan counterparts, have continued to seize key cities and towns governed for years by Al Shabaab, arguably, to reassure the world that August deadline for the TFG and subsequent “country wide” elections is achievable, Alas! if Somalia’s recent history is anything to go by , a military quick fix is not the answer, Beledweyne,captured at end of last year, until now still with out an administration and in political deadlock, that resulted in inter-clan strife earlier this month,and not to mention extra judicial executions blamed on Ethiopian military should serves as a reminder.

As high powered delegates from international community met London to discuss the future of Somalia, UK based channel 4 released an interview, conducted with HSM spokesman Sheikh Ali dhere, by award wining Somali journalist Jamal Osman with unrivalled access to group.

Sheikh Ali dhere remarked regarding the conference “Your peace depends upon us being left alone,” said Mr Dhere. “If you do not let us live in peace, you will not enjoy peace either.” – a statement that some analyst and politicians would take to understand, that the group has now clear international agenda ,especially after its recent merger with Al Qaeda, but if anything, that (statement) should put them operationally in the same category as Afghanistan’s Taliban with slight difference.