Why Kismayo is important

Sources: VOA news, Thematic Mapping, Washington Post, Global Ecco, Humanitarian Practice Network, Esri, l-cubed, USDA. USGS, AEX, GeoEye, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP and the GIS User Community Kismayo Geo Gecko .com Geo Gecko .com External Fertile land Ethiopia Kismayo Federalism Kenya Why is it important? Kenya has an interest in the stabilisation of Southern Eritrea Djibouti Eritrea Djibouti Djibouti Somalia. Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya is composed of nearly 500,000 Somali refugees. If the situation in Southern Somalia was to stabilise, these refugees could return home. Al Shabaab is still a powerful force, especially in the south of the country. Cross border raids by the group in Puntland Geo Gecko specialises in map making and geographic analysis. See more at geogecko.com Ethiopia Addis Ababa Somalia Somaliland Somalia Ababa Addis Somalia Recently liberated from the Islamic militant group AI Shabaab, this small Ethiopia Ethiopian Somali Region the past are evidence that the threat to Kenyas tourist Mogadishu trade and the massive port development in Lamu is very real. Ensuring a friendly administration in Jubaland would act as an effective security buffer. Kismayo port is a massive source of revende for whoever holds the city Charcoal exports to UAE and Saudi Arabia netted Al Shabaab US $25 Ethiopia An Ogadani dominated Jubaland could offer significant support to the Ogadani National Libera tion Front (ONLF) fighting the governent in Ethiopias Somali region. Those interested in destabilising Ethiopia could funnel military support through the port if an ONLF friendly administration allowed it. Dadaab million in 2011 alone. city in Southern Somalia is of great Two semi-autonomous regions exist within Somalia. The Somali Federal Government (SFG) accepts the existence and creation of autonomous regions within the country. Kiśmaayo Mogadishu $40 million worth of charcoal is estimated to stacked up in the city as the UN has placed an embargo on its export. Mogadishu Kenyan forces recently removed Al Shabaab from power with the support of local Kenyan allied militia, Raskam- boni. The leader of Ras Kamboni has been nominated as president. Others vying for power have objected with force Nairobi strategic importance. Kenya Kismaayo It also agrees that a semi-autonomous Kenya emu Geo Gecko explains why. Jubaland has a right to be recognised. However its position is that the process is unconstitutional. Nairobi Kismaayo Kismayo is a provincial capital and sustains farming in the highly fertile Juba valley and fishing from the port. The port also enables access by the Kismay administration to support from to regional states. Yemen, Jubaland amu Mombasa Many will be watching how this situation develops to see how the SFG deals with other centres of power. It is believed oil and gas deposits may lie off the coast Syria, Iran, Qatar and Eritrea have been accused of providing military Mombasa Tanzania Mombasa support to Al Shabaab. Source: Crisis Group Blogs Kismayo transfers of of power Geo Gecko .com Go to geogecko.com/?p=750 for the 9-USC/Somali Liberation R VARIOUS Transitional Federal Islamic Al Shabaab, Hisbul Islam United EArmy Juba Valley Alliance AI Shabaab -SPM/SLA Somali Democratic Movement (SDM)/SLA Somali SPM Courts Congress (USC) Union Govt. most detailed map of the city publicly 1991 1992 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 1994 2000 2006 2011 available. Geo Gecko .com Geo Gecko .com Kenya