African troops prepare for Comoros offensive

Alex — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:55:19 +0000

A strange atmosphere prevails in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros, where more than 1,500 African troops are training for an operation to retake the rebel island of Anjouan.
The federal government did not recognise the re-election of Anjouan leader Colonel Mohamed Bacar in June 2007 and a tense stand-off is now poised to turn into an African Union-backed invasion of the island.
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.
“They sing better when they don’t get down,” an old man watching the exercise from his little beachfront kiosk said of the Tanzanians, who sing and dance lustily throughout the exercise.

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African troops prepare for Comoros offensive