African Invasion of Comoros Island

Finn McCool · 03-23-2008

Quote:

NEWS AFRICA

Comoros prepares Anjouan invasion

About 1,000 African Union troops are set to arrive on Moheli to support 400 Comoran soldiers [AFP]

African Union troops have been arriving on the Comoros island of Moheli in preparation for a military offensive to retake the island of Anjouan.

The government of the Indian Ocean archipelago refused to recognise the re-election of Colonel Mohamed Bacar on Anjouan in June 2007 beginning a stand-off with the island.

At least 200 Sudanese and 300 Tanzanian troops have so far landed in the port town of Fomboni, the AFP news agency reported.

Senegalese troops are also expected to arrive in the next few days, while Libya has provided transport assistance for the AU-sponsored operation.

Abdul Bacar Soihir, head of the cabinet of the Comoros union, told The Associated Press news agency on Thursday: "The invasion will be very soon."

More than 1,000 African troops are expected to take part, supporting about 400 Comoran soldiers.

Yahya Abdallah, the Sudanese commander, said as he arrived with a deployment of paratroopers: "We are happy to be here... The Comoran people are our Muslim brothers and we are proud to be able to help them."

Re-election 'illegal'

Each of the Comoros federation's three islands has its own president and government institutions. Bacar has ruled Anjouan since 2002, but his re-election last year was deemed illegal by both the central authorities and the African Union (AU).

A Comoran army lieutenant said: "We are soon going to be able to solve this matter.

"We have waited too long to please the international community and wait for these African troops."

However, regional power South Africa and former colonial rulers France said diplomacy should not be abandoned.

Pascale Andreani, a French foreign ministry spokeswoman, said: "We remain ... in support of dialogue and a peaceful solution to this crisis.

"Colonel Bacar must, for that, immediately confirm his agreement to organise elections in Anjouan in the near future and allow the African Union troops to take position at the port and airport in Anjouan to prepare to make the elections safe."

The AU is backing Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, the archipelago's president, to protect the territorial integrity of the Comoros. Bacar has said he is seeking Anjouan's independence from the union.

The archipelago has survived 19 coups or coup attempts since it acquired independence from France in 1975.

From Al Jazeera.

I had not even heard of this conflict until Popeye posted some pics of Tanzanian troops arriving in the capital of the Comoros to stage for an invasion of the breakaway island, Anjouan. So here you all are-an invasion no one knew about. I do sort of condier myself SDF's invasion-master. Anytime any country attacks or seriously threatens to attack somebody else and action seems imminent I'll bring it to you all, unless someone beats me to it.

Back on the subject, what type of armament do the rebels have? I doubt that we will found out, but that's the $1000 question which will determine if this is more of a political exercise or if there is actually a reason why 1,000 combat-ready AU troops are being deployed along with the Comoros(ian?) military. Since the rebel's leader is a Colonel it would stand to reason that he commands some sort of military force which might stand with him. Also the Comoros has experienced 19 or so coup attempts in the last few decades so there might be weapons lying around and it's not hard to imagine some Comoran(? How do you say that?) troops stationed on Anjouan supporting this breakaway. Really this is also speculation and educated guessing based on lack of actual facts.

I'm also genuinely surprised that the AU had the political will and logisitical capability to pull this off.

crazyinsane105 · 03-23-2008

You beat me to it Finn McCool! Well, here's an excellent article written by the War Nerd about the situation:

http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?...7&IBLOCK_ID=35

Vlad Plasmius · 03-24-2008

Quote:

Analysts say the African Union may be hoping to score a relatively easy victory against Anjouan to earn some much-needed international prestige to offset the failures of its struggling peacekeeping missions in Sudan and Somalia.

Source: Reuters

Don't know what you can take this for but:

Quote:

Anjouan have invested heavily in its national security. Main components are the Gendarmerie commanded by Commander Abdou, the younger brother of Col. Mr. Bacar, the strongman of Anjouan. A battalion size militia of approx. 500 backs the Gendarmerie. The readiness status of Anjoun defence forces is unknown as is the armament and equipment status. However, The Anjouan defence forces outweigh the neighbouring Comoran defence forces and are regarded as somewhat more professional than the opponent (Comorian defence forces).

Source: Wikipedia

Also, the AU might actually have their hands full:

Quote:

But as the mainly Tanzanians and some Sudanese AU contingent held exercises ahead of an expected landing on Anjouan, there were signs that the operation might pose unexpected problems for the force.

Some of the troops did not seem accustomed to beach landings.

Simulating beach landings on the small island of Fomoni, the Tanzanians inspired more laughter than awe as they clumsily get off their dinghies. Some manage to drop their rifles into the waves in the process.

Quote:

Some of their comrades meanwhile simulated a defensive tactic, gathering near a wall. But it was an uphill task for many of them, who were clearly out of breath after a short sprint.

"Luckily there is no resistance on the beach," a Comoros military official overseeing the mock drill commented drily.

"One strategically placed machine gun and they all would have been dead," he added.

Source: AFP

It would be funny if it weren't for the fact they're actually going to war soon.

Finn McCool · 03-25-2008

I read an article in which the Comoran Defence forces stated that they landed a smaller party of a few dozen on Anjouan (apparently undetected) moved inland, engaged a police checkpoint, killed a few and captured some others, and escaped. That would indicate that the defence is not very organized. However landing a few dozen men if far less difficult than doing the same with over 1000. And don't expect the Sudanese Army to have any amphibious training. Or the Senegalese and Tanzanians for that matter. What may decide this is French involvment. If the French decide to show support with some helicopters, maybe even a ship, then resistance on Anjouan will probably melt and the largest problem facing the AU will be fixed (getting from the other islands to the rebels). But if there isn't French intervention, and the rebels have decent equipment and the will to fight, these AU troops may die attempting to score political points for their governments.

Troika · 03-25-2008

Well, that was anti-climatic.

It seems that although not having formidable adversary in the AU armies, the militia decided to not fight anyway.

Finn McCool · 03-25-2008

Yes that certainly was part of it, but also I think we can attribute the rebel's defeat to lack of HMGs, a sizeable amount of mortars, RPGs and the like: AK-47s would not have been enough to win this battle. In addition, it seems that the Anjouan Gendermerie chose to fight (when they chose to fight at all) further inland rather than at the beaches, probably because of the lack of weapons I mentioned above. The AU troops were most vunerable between ship and inland. Lastly, they didn't have very good morale it seems, the Anjouan militia just melted away.

Vlad Plasmius · 03-27-2008

It seems the only casualties were about a dozen civilians getting injured, no deaths. So basically two highly incompetent forces went against each other and I guess the AU won.

Mr T · 03-30-2008

I read about this on the BBC. Interesting to see the African Union getting its act together and taking the plunge. But I wonder if they would have done that against a more formidable opponent...

chakos · 04-05-2008

Mr T you know exactly how that force would have fared against a more professional enemy. You dont need to wonder...

Im of the opinion that if those 1400 combined troops attempted to invade an island held by even a platoon of professional western soldiers armed only with platoon weapons the result would be rather one sided in the way of the western troops.. but i suppose you have to start somewhere dont you